North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll will join members of the North East Jewish community this weekend to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2024.
Members of the Representative Council of North East Jewry will gather at Newcastle City Library to hear from keynote speaker Mrs Susie Kaufman who will speak of her parents’ experiences during the Holocaust and watch a performance from local school children who will showcase a new song, written by the community.
Reflecting on this year’s theme, ‘fragility of freedom’, North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said:
“Freedom is fragile. We know that. In the UK we are free to live, work, worship – or not, and love who we want.
“Many people around the world do not have the same luxuries. This Holocaust Memorial Day we pay tribute to those who survived, the courage of those who resisted, and the memory of all those who were murdered during the Holocaust and in every genocide since then.
“We remind ourselves that the Holocaust is a result of the demonisation and dehumanisation of marginalised groups, from Jewish people to Romanis, Slavs, LGBTQ+ communities and the disabled.
“We honour the victims, survivors, their families and friends. We must learn from the past and all play our part in tackling discrimination, hatred, and intolerance today.
“In the North East we are a community who stands united. Please join us and light a candle this weekend in remembrance.”
Holocaust Memorial Day events will take place in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
The UK Ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 will be streamed online from 7.30pm on January 27. Register your place here https://www.hmd.org.uk/take-part-in-holocaust-memorial-day/ukhmd/