Holocaust Memorial Day to be marked virtually in ceremonies across Yorkshire

Holocaust Memorial Day will be marked on today (Wednesday Jan 27) across the region in virtual ceremonies and commemorations.
Residents across Yorkshire are being encouraged to light a candle and display it in their windows tomorrow to mark Holocaust Memorial DayResidents across Yorkshire are being encouraged to light a candle and display it in their windows tomorrow to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Residents across Yorkshire are being encouraged to light a candle and display it in their windows tomorrow to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

Residents are being encouraged by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to light a candle and display it in their windows at eight o’clock tonight iin remembrance of the millions worldwide who have been murdered in genocides.

In York, a video has been released featuring the Star of David lit in candles on the floor of the Minster’s ancient Chapter House, and a virtual ceremony will take place with speeches by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, and Student Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber.

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Archbishop Cottrell said: “I’m humbled and honoured to be part of this Holocaust memorial event. In remembering these horrors and the millions of Jewish people - and others besides - who were slaughtered in the death camps of a wicked and godless regime, we commit ourselves, here in this city of sanctuary and in our nation, to building a world where these horrors are never repeated.”

In Leeds, a civic remembrance event at is being screened on the Town Hall’s website which includes a virtual reading of WH Auden’s poem Refugee Blues by young people from four of the city’s youth organisations, followed by candle lighting by representatives of different groups persecuted including Holocaust survivors, people with additional needs and the LGBT+ community.

An online vigil is also planned by Sheffield City Council, including contributions from leader of the council, Bob Johnson, and Rabbi Golomb of Sheffield’s orthodox Jewish community.

The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is “Be the light in the darkness,” and residents are encouraged to share photographs of candles flickering in their windows on social media to mark the occasion using the hashtag #lightthedarkness.

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