Shoah educators unveil theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2021
'This theme has been developed over a number of months, but has taken on a new and more poignant meaning during the coronavirus pandemic'
Next year’s Holocaust Memorial Day events are to be inspired by the call to action “Be the light in the darkness”, the trust announced today.
Announcing the theme, Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT), said it “has been developed over a number of months, but has taken on a new and more poignant meaning during the coronavirus pandemic.”
“For some people, HMD 2021 may look different to previous years. However, our commitment remains unwavering, and we know that groups in the UK will ensure the legacy of HMD 2020 is continued,” she said.
“This theme calls out for imaginative responses. I was so inspired by the creativity and energy which all 17,000 HMD activities showed this year, and I can’t wait to see how people’s ideas bring this theme to life,” she added.
The writer and comedian David Baddiel, who confronted Holocaust denial in a recent documentary, joined the trust in launching the theme.”Most Holocaust deniers now are trolls on the internet. Their main aim is to create pain and offence. They are more dangerous, they disseminate their stuff more widely and young people are more attracted to it,” he said.
“The more you examine and show the absurdity of Holocaust denial, the more someone telling the truth, particularly a survivor, burns stronger,” he added.
HMD 2020 saw an unprecedented 17,000 events marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, with more than 4,500 schools, prisons, faith groups, libraries and community groups taking part.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
