On Monday evening, during an unprecedented time of global instability and uncertainty, millions around the world commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day, known as Yom Hashoah.
Key political figures around the world and in the UK came forward to express their solidarity with Jewish communities as they joined in remembering the 6 million Jewish people who died in the Holocaust.
As traditional ceremonies of remembrance were unable to take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online formats were utilised in order to mark the solemn occasion.
Among those to pay tribute to the victims of the Holocaust included HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, CFI Parliamentary Chairman in the Lords and UK Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues, Rt. Hon. The Lord Pickles, Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, and other parliamentarians.
Taking part in an online ceremony for Yom Hashoah UK, HRH Prince Charles highlighted the importance of not just remembering those who perished, but also to recognise those survivors who came and contributed to the United Kingdom: “Whilst they may consider themselves the lucky ones, when so many did not survive, to us they are simply nothing short of living heroes, who were determined not just to survive but to thrive as they built new lives, new homes and new families here in the United Kingdom”.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick MP spoke on behalf of the Prime Minister during the ceremony, and called attention to the pressing issue of antisemitism, and how Yom Hashoah reminds us that “it’s never been more important to fight against the world’s oldest form of hatred. Antisemitism must not be ignored and it must not be tolerated here in the UK or anywhere else around the world, and we have to remember that there are no bystanders in this battle”.
The World Jewish Congress marked Yom Hashoah with an online commemorative ceremony, during which CFI’s Parliamentary Chairman (Lords) Rt. Hon. The Lord Pickles highlighted the importance of education regarding the Holocaust, and spoke in detail about the New Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre that is to be erected in London beside Parliament.
Lord Pickles said that it is important to build the memorial in Britain’s democratic centre, as “It’s there to fulfil a two fold function. It’s to remind those that visit the memorial that Parliament is the last bastion against tyranny, but it’s also there to remind those who work in parliament that they’ve got a choice: that they can either protect their citizens or they can oppress them”.
Lord Pickles, during the online ceremony, tied together the messages that Yom Hashoah brings to the forefront, such as remembrance, education and the combatting of Anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.
“We make sure that we tackle Holocaust denial head on,” said Pickles. “That we ensure that we help frame the narrative. That we ensure that we hold dear to our friends who are Holocaust survIvors; that the truth that will always be told, and we are absolutely determined to build something that not only the British people will be proud of, that parliament will be proud of, but something that the whole world will be proud of”.
On Twitter, Middle East Minister Rt. Hon. James Cleverly MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Tom Tugendhat MP both paid tribute to those who lost their lives at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, with the former citing his visit to the camp in the late 1980s. Christian Wakeford MP also that he would be participating in the virtual March of the Living this year, and Rt. Hon. Robert Halfon MP posted a video of himself lighting a Yellow Candle of remembrance.
