
Barnet Council held its annual Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) commemoration yesterday (Sunday 26 January) with a service at Middlesex University, bringing together the borough’s multifaith community to remember the Jewish victims of the Holocaust and genocides throughout the world.
This year’s HMD marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi concentration camps, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.
Speakers at this year’s service included Peter Summerfield BEM, whose family were able to escape Nazi Berlin, just four days before war was declared. He said, "As the fight against religious and racial intolerance becomes increasingly vital, it is very encouraging to see that Barnet continues to annually commemorate and educate everyone of the dangers of racism which led to persecution and to genocide.”
Also attending this years’ commemoration was Holocaust survivor Vera Schaufeld MBE, who lit the memorial candle at the service, alongside JLGB young leaders Becca Silverstone and Sam Rose-Isaacs.
Veras story of her childhood began in pre-war Czechoslovakia, she was one of the children transported to Britain in 1939 by Sir Nicholas Winton at the age of nine. Though Vera had regular contact with her family after arriving in the UK, she later went on to learn they had all been killed in concentration camps. After the war was over, Vera went onto train as an English teacher, and to this day continues to share her story speaking at many events including in government departments and large company organisations.
The Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Tony Vourou, welcomed everyone to the service. He said: “Holocaust Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the atrocities of the past and the devastating effect the Holocaust and genocide has had on individuals and families across the world, as well as those living in our borough.
“I am very grateful to Middlesex University for once again hosting this year’s commemoration at this marvellous venue and enabling us to come together to remember and honour their memories. Their stories must be never forgotten.”
The theme for HMD was ‘For a Better Future’, an opportunity for people to come together, learn both from and about the past, and take actions to make a better future for all.
Rabbi Mark Goldsmith, Senior Rabbi of Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day chooses a theme each year to unite the learning and commemoration. This year it is ‘for a better future’. Hearing the individual stories of the victims of violence, racism and terror should move us to never accept a future that is blighted by the horror that humans can inflict on each other.
“It is not the statistics nor the retelling of the political and social history which led up to the Holocaust which impress however shocking, it is being in a room with a person who can tell you that this is their story, the story of their life and their family. This, as always, is what you will experience at the borough of Barnet Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration”.
Other speakers included the Vice Chancellor of Middlesex University Professor Shân Wareing, and the Leader of Barnet Council, Cllr Barry Rawlings.
Cllr Rawlings said: “It is vital that we commemorate the Holocaust - the attempt to exterminate the Jewish people, as well as other groups such as the Romani. We also reflect on other atrocities of the past such as the genocides in Bosnia, Darfur, Rwanda, and Cambodia, and the devastating effect this has had on individuals and families across the world. We are extremely fortunate to live in a peaceful and democratic society in this country where diversity strengthens and unites our communities. Holocaust Memorial Day is a special day that reminds us of the importance of tolerance, understanding and consideration for others.”
There were musical performances from the Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue Choir, The Alyth SMG Choir and The Barnet Band.
Students from East Barnet School were selected to take part in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project this autumn. Aoife Pearce and Katie Froget attended the commemoration where they spoke of Lessons from Auschwitz and read the Barnet Statement of Commitment.
Snowdrops were handed out at the end of the ceremony by students from Akiva School, as part of Barnet’s project to plant a snowdrop in memory of every one of the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust. Students from Alma Primary School wrote poems which were displayed for attendees to read.
This year, for the first time, the council livestreamed the service on the council YouTube channel. The full service can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmvk6vy-2Xc&t=934s