“History is important. Facts are important. During these unsettling times it can feel like they are under attack”
Sir Keir Starmer
On Friday 22nd January we were honoured to host a moving and reflective virtual commemoration for Holocaust Memorial Day 2021.
The theme this year Be the Light in the Darkness asks us to recognise that the responsibility for education and prevention lies with all of us. As the distortion of the Holocaust has sadly become more widespread, we have a greater responsibility than ever to face the truth about the nature of genocide and tackle the threat posed by propaganda and hate.
We were delighted to be joined by the Leader of the Her Majesty’s Opposition, and the Library’s local MP for Holborn and St Pancras, Sir Keir Starmer. The virtual event also featured testimonies drawn from the Library’s collections and read by British actress Olivia Williams and reflections from The Rt Hon Lord Eric Pickles, Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, and Rabbi Jeremy Gordon from the New London Synagogue.
The event was concluded with a memorial prayer from Cantor Jaclyn Chernett.
You can watch the full event via the Library’s YouTube channel.
Press:
Starmer draws on Pesach story at Wiener Library’s HMD event. Jewish News, 26.01.21
2 comments so far
Unfortunately, my family members didn’t survive. I tried to find information at Yad Vashem last year in Israel, but was unsuccessful.
Dear Mr Osterman,
We’re very sorry to hear that your search so far has been unsuccessful. Have you tried submitting an enquiry to the International Tracing Service? More information can be found here: https://wienerholocaustlibrary.org/what-we-do/research/its/