HMD 2015 at the Centre

Holocaust Memorial Day Event

The National Holocaust Centre and Museum commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day on 27^th January 2015.

At the event, three Holocaust Survivors who regularly speak at the Centre, Bob Norton, Howard Kendall and Ellen Rawson, led the Centre's commemoration by lighting candles to remember those murdered in the Holocaust.

Sir John Peace, Nottinghamshire Lord Lieutenant, also lit one of the 70 commemorative candles that are across the country and designed by Sir Anish Kapoor, commenting as he lit the candle, "We must never, ever forget."

The Centre's CEO, Phil Lyons MBE, commented: "Today is about remembering; today is about learning and today is about tomorrow, that we continue to build a tolerant accepting society."

The theme for this year's event centred around the national HMD theme of 'Keep the Memory Alive.'  During the event, it was announced that the Centre is embarking on a whole new approach to Survivor testimony, where high-quality 3D filming is being used in order to make the very best quality available - to keep the memory alive.

Dr James Smith, the Centre's President, spoke on this year's HMD theme 'Keeping the Memory Alive.'  He pointed out that problems of racism in our society today can be countered if we remember the failings of the past and try to avoid making the same mistakes;  that the Centre's very existence and foundation was inspired by the Survivors' testimonies and that, he said, showed "one can make a difference."

The former Director of Education, Mrs Marina Smith MBE, gave a brief address during the commemoration in which she highlighted the suffering and intense loss felt by the Survivors.  She empathised with the deepest sorrow of the Survivors and the love they still hold dear for their families.

Rabbi Perez completed the commemoration by singing Kaddish and leading the prayers.