London SE1 community website

Southwark’s Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony

London SE1 website team

The annual Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at the Holocaust memorial tree in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park was led by Rabbi Alan Greenbat from the Chief Rabbi's office.

Rabbi Alan Greenbat
Rabbi Alan Greenbat
The Mayor of Southwark Cllr Jeff Hook
The Mayor of Southwark Cllr Jeff Hook
Holocaust memorial tree
The Holocaust memorial tree was planted eight years ago
Southwark’s Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony
A wreath was laid on behalf of the Russian Embassy
Wreaths in front of the Soviet War Memorial
Wreaths in front of the Soviet War Memorial

"The Holocaust was a defining event of the 20th century," said Rabbi Greenbat.

"Unlike the quality of mercy which blesses the donor and the recipient, the Holocaust besmirched the perpetrators and devastated the victims.

"The world was provided with an object lesson in horror and murder when a nominally civilised nation allowed itself to become dehumanised."

"There are literally millions of reasons for us to ensure that such a catastrophe never happens again."

The brief service, which included the singing of Psalm 23, was followed by another ceremony at the adjacent Soviet War Memorial and speeches from the Mayor of Southwark Cllr Jeff Hook and Simon Hughes MP.

Wreaths were laid by representatives of Southwark and Anglo-Russian organisations, as well as representatives of the embassies of the former Soviet republics.

The next public event at the Soviet War Memorial is the Victory Day ceremony on Sunday 9 May.

On Tuesday the Greater London Authority's observance of Holocaust Memorial Day was held at City Hall. Wreaths were laid by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the chair of the London Assembly Darren Johnson AM.

The Statement of Commitment signed by the Mayor and Assembly chair is contained in a book open for the public to sign at City Hall for the rest of the week.


Listen to audio
The SE1 website is supported by people like you
Related forum discussions
We are part of
Independent Community News Network
Email newsletter

For the latest local news and events direct to your inbox every Monday, you need our weekly email newsletter SE1 Direct.

Archive
News archive from February 1999 to January 2001
Got a story for us?
Contact us with your tip-offs and story ideas.