Educators welcome ‘astonishing increase’ in Holocaust Memorial Day events
New figures reveal 7,700 activities took place for this year's event – six times the number seen six years ago.
Holocaust educators say 2017 saw an “astonishing increase” in the number of local activities around the country as part of Holocaust Memorial Day in January.
The trust charged with overseeing event said this week that more than 7,700 activities were recorded on 27 January, up from 5,590 last year and 2,000 in 2013.
Across the UK tens of thousands learned about the horrors of the Holocaust and other genocides in places like Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, with this year’s theme focusing on how survivors rebuild their lives.
Organisers say events took place in prisons, schools, museums, galleries, libraries and workplaces, with faith groups coming together to share their experiences and thoughts.
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman said: “This year we have seen an astonishing increase in the number of local HMD activities. Each one enables people to learn more about the past, feel differently about their responsibilities today and do more to create a better future.”
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.
