Holocaust Memorial Day: ‘Standing Together’

This Holocaust Memorial Day, Hampshire County Council will be inviting council staff, County Councillors and community faith leaders to come together to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz Birkenau, and the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian conflict.

A special event will be held at 10.30am on Monday 27 January, outside the Great Hall in Winchester. It will include short addresses by the Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Keith Mans; former County Councillor Michael Zeffertt, a member of the Portsmouth and Southsea Synagogue; and by Danny Habel who represents the Jewish faith on SACRE – Hampshire’s Standing Committee for Religious Education, and whose own family were directly affected by the Holocaust.

The event will also include a performance by the Hampshire Music Service and a prayer led by Dean Catherine of Winchester Cathedral.

County Council Leader, Councillor Keith Mans, said: “The importance of Holocaust Memorial Day is to not only remember the victims, and the brave men and women who have stood together against persecution across the years, but to use the opportunity to reflect on how we can become more resolute in striving for tolerance and understanding in our communities today.

“As Leader of Hampshire County Council, I am extremely proud of this Authority’s work over the years with partners to tackle hate crime, and through our Education Services and community work to promote inclusion and foster respect and understanding between different faiths and cultures. I have no doubt that Hampshire is a richer and better place because of its diversity.

“Respecting difference and valuing diversity, are behaviours that can never be taken for granted.”

Throughout the day, the County Council’s flag at its Winchester headquarters will also be flown at half-mast, out of respect for the victims of the Holocaust and more recent genocides.

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