Don’t Stand By’: AJR Holocaust Memorial Day 2016

Almost 200 people attended this year’s AJR Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) service at Belsize Square Synagogue. Under the national HMD 2016 theme ‘Don’t Stand By’, author and BBC broadcaster Edward Stourton, in conversation with AJR member and child Holocaust survivor Joan Salter, drew on his book Cruel Crossing, in which he describes the escape of thousands of people – including Joan – across the Pyrenees from Nazi-controlled Europe. Signed copies of the book were available after the event. Sir Eric Pickles, the UK Envoy for Post- Holocaust Issues, gave the concluding remarks. He declared that ‘constant vigilance’ with regard to anti-Semitism was essential. He paid tribute to Sir Nicholas Winton and historian Sir Martin Gilbert, who had both died last year. The British Government stood ‘100 per cent behind UK Jewry’, Sir Erich said. The Choir of the Jewish Community Secondary School performed a number of songs. Among guests at the service were, from the Austrian Embassy, HE Dr Martin Eichtinger, the Austrian Ambasssador, and Christoph Weidinger, Minister Plenipotentiary; Charlotte Schwarzer, Head of Culture and Education at the German Embassy; and Counsellor Diane Feher from the Hungarian Embassy. Commemorative prayers were led by Belsize Square Synagogue’s Rabbi Stuart Altshuler and the event was introduced by AJR Chief Executive Michael Newman.