The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia have been marked by a reflective ceremony at Liverpool’s Town Hall.
The theme of the service was ‘For a Better Future’ and residents are urged to learn about past horrors so that they never happen again. The Lord Mayor and Rabbi Fagleman from the Allerton Hebrew Congregation lit candles; there were prayers and also a speech delivered by Francine Palant, whose parents were both Holocaust survivors.
The event opened with a performance by King David High School musicians. The Lord Mayor, Cllr Richard Kemp CBE also laid a wreath at St John’s Gardens.
At last week’s Full Council meeting, Liverpool City Council reaffirmed its commitment to advocating awareness of the Holocaust. The Town Hall, St George’s Hall and the Cunard Building were also lit up in purple to mark the day.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Richard Kemp CBE said: “This year is a significant milestone, given that it is 80 years since Auschwitz was liberated and 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia.
“Like each Holocaust Memorial Day, it is a time to reflect and to consider what we can do as a City and community to combat prejudice in all its forms.
“Liverpool prides itself on being a diverse City and the better future we can work towards is where all communities can live together safely and with great respect for each other.
“Learning from the very worst things that humankind has done to itself is one of the most effective ways to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.”
Jeremy Wolfson, chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Planning Group at Liverpool City Council and a member of Liverpool’s Jewish community, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and raise awareness of not only what happened, but to try and ensure that the attitudes which led to them are not repeated.”
