Thursday 27 January 2022

Holocaust Memorial Day

On Monday of this week, I was able to meet with the Holocaust Education Trust and sign the book of condolence that remembers Holocaust Memorial Day.

Holocaust Memorial Day is Thursday January 27th. It marks 77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.

We remember the atrocities, and reaffirm our commitment to ensure it never, ever happens again.

The passage of 77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz – Birkenau has rendered those events no less unthinkable.

My trip to Jerusalem a few years ago moved me tremendously, most particularly the visit to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre. The Centre is dedicated to preserving the memory of Jews who were murdered, honouring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors and researching the Holocaust, so that no genocide every happens again.

Many have uttered the words ‘never again’ - but recent events across the world have demonstrated that anti- Jewish racism, anti- Semitism, is still a serious problem in societies across the world.

We were reminded only too recently that anti-Semitism is still prevalent in our society, when a man took hostages at a synagogue in Dallas, Texas. This was an act of anti- Semitism and terrorism, and I stand with Jewish people across the world in defending the rights of citizens against those who spread hate.

I watched the rabbi of the synagogue, Charlie Cytron – Walker, giving his moving account of the attacker entering the synagogue and taking his congregation as hostages. My thoughts are with the Jewish community, at such a salient time of year, when we remember the atrocious events of what happened 77 years ago.

This awful event wasn’t a one off. The toxic ideology of anti – Semitism has seen Jews across the world murdered simply because of who they were. In France, we see Jewish schools guarded by armed police.

Our best defence against this poisonous ideology is education. I support the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust; the Trust’s mission is to educate young people in Britain from every background about the Holocaust and its meaning for us today. I know they are working with several Tynedale schools very successfully. 

Spend a few minutes today reflecting on what happened 77 years ago. Talking and remembering are the best way to fight anti – Semitism going forward.