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Redbridge pays its respect on Holocaust Memorial Day
30 January 2012
Press release number: PR1684
More than 300 of the Borough’s schoolchildren joined religious
leaders, Councillors and residents at a service to pay tribute to
the millions that died during the Holocaust.
The service, held at the Holocaust Memorial Garden in Valentines
Park, Ilford, was one of thousands taking place across the world
during Holocaust Memorial Day – January 27.
It was opened and closed by the Mayor, Councillor Chris Cummins,
and was presided by Councillor Alan Weinberg, Cabinet Member for
Children’s Services. The service featured readings from
schoolchildren, and hymns from the combined choirs of the South
West Essex and Resettlement Reform Synagogue and Ilford United
Synagogue.
Survivor
Ivor Perl, a Holocaust Survivor from Hungary, spoke passionately
about the horrors of the holocaust and his hope that the young
people of today would take on board the atrocities of the past so
they would not be repeated in the future.
There was also a poem from Maria Leier, a member of the Roma
Support Group, reminding everyone that Roma were among the many
different ethnicities and communities that suffered the horrors of
the holocaust.
Speak Up Speak Out
Councillor Keith Prince, Leader of Redbridge Council gave a
speech on this year’s HMD theme “Speak Up, Speak Out” which
encourages us to speak out against racism and discrimination in all
its forms.
He said: “The right to speak up may seem an uncomplicated
concept, but the Untold Stories of the past have shown us that
voices have been taken away, and are ignored or still silenced
today.
“Holocaust Memorial Day asks us all to Speak Up, Speak Out to
share the lessons of the past and the present and to use our voices
to create a safer and better future."
The crowd, which included MPs Mike Gapes and Lee Scott and
Councillor Jas Athwal, Leader of Redbridge Labour Group, heard
prayers from the Rabbi I G Hyman from Ilford United Synagogue and a
speech from the Mayor’s Chaplain Reverend Dr Liz Horwell, from
Christ Church, Wanstead.
Wreaths were laid in the memorial garden and students concluded
the ceremony with a reading of the Statement of Commitment, a
series of pledges that remind us to remember the holocaust and
other more recent genocides and learn lessons from the past to make
the world a better place.
For more information on Holocaust Memorial Day visit the Holocaust
Memorial Day page.
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