Mayor of London joins survivors and communal leaders for moving HMD service
City Hall event featured moving testimonial from Holocaust survivor Annick Lever
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and deputy chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff, welcomed community leaders and survivors to a commemorative service at City Hall ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day.
Held in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and the Holocaust Educational Trust, the annual service paid tribute to Holocaust survivors, victims, and all those affected by genocide.
This year’s theme, ‘Bridging Generations,’ highlighted the importance of ensuring that the lessons from the past are passed down, as the responsibility of remembrance continues beyond the survivors themselves.
The ceremony featured moving testimonials from Holocaust survivor Annick Lever — who was smuggled out of prison by her father before being deported to the Drancy transit camp—and Safet Vukalić, a survivor of the Bosnian genocide.
Speakers included the Mayor of London, deputy chair of the London Assembly, chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Olivia Marks-Woldman, and interim chief programmes and outreach officer Anna Bradford.
Ambassadors from the Holocaust Educational Trust reflected on their experiences in the Lessons from Auschwitz programme, and Regional Ambassador Amberley Thay delivered the Statement of Commitment.
Rabbi Nick Kett of the Radlett United Synagogue led the El Male Rachamim memorial prayer, followed by the lighting of a memorial candle by Annick Lever and Safet Vukalić.
The service opened and closed with musical performances by Lenka Lichtenberg, a Canadian singer of Czech-Jewish descent.
In addition, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s exhibition, “80 Candles for 80 Years,” is currently on display in London’s Living Room at City Hall.
Reflecting on the significance of the day, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of the atrocities of the past and the shared responsibility that we all carry to ensure that such horrors are never repeated.
“City Hall’s annual service provides an important moment for us all to hear from survivors and ensure that their experiences are passed on to future generations.
“As we continue to battle against the scourge of antisemitism and hatred across the globe, their message is more vital than ever. I will continue to do everything in my power to unite communities and show that there is no place for hate in our city, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”
Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, highlighted the importance of partnership and unity: “We are delighted to be partnering with City Hall to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, helping to ensure that remembrance remains visible, meaningful and relevant for people across the City of London.
“At a time when antisemitism and prejudice are rising in the UK, Holocaust Memorial Day brings communities from all backgrounds, ages and beliefs together to remember the past and stand against hatred in the present.”
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, drew attention to the enduring relevance of Holocaust remembrance: “On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators; and we honour the survivors who rebuilt their lives while coming to terms with unimaginable loss.
“Over 80 years on, the Holocaust is fading further into history and the responsibility of safeguarding the memory of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust passes firmly on to the next generation.
This Holocaust Memorial Day comes at a time of growing concern for Jewish communities around the world. Remembering the persecution and murder of Jewish people in the past remains essential, but it must be accompanied by an urgency to challenge antisemitism today and confront its causes.”
Deputy chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff, added:” As the passage of time since the grim events of the Holocaust widens, the cherished opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from survivors and their descendants diminishes; however, we mustn’t allow time or distance to desensitise us to the devastating consequences of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in the world.”
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