03/02/2012 - Permalink

Celebrating a successful Holocaust Memorial Day event

Related topics: Democracy

Shropshire Council hosted its most successful event yet for Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday 27 January 2012 in the Council Chamber, Shirehall.

The diverse audience were treated to an evening of music, song and drama as well as some very moving accounts of personal experiences, giving everyone time to reflect on the ‘speak up speak out’ theme for the evening.

The event started when a candlelit procession left from Shrewsbury College and walked to  Shirehall for the main event.  A Klezmer Band played its traditional style of music at various points in the evening and, in addition, a Malenka Choir treated us to their wonderful and uplifting vocals.  A drama group from Shrewsbury College recited a poem and performed a very moving play, before the evening ended with Sue Phillips’ memories from her visit to Auschwitz and a mourning Kaddish (traditional prayer). 

Councillor Martin Bennett, Shropshire Council’s Deputy Cabinet member, said:

“I was very honoured to be asked to open the Holocaust Memorial Day event last Friday. The whole evening was a success and I believe it touched everyone in the room, with a wonderful balance between celebration and commemoration.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members the Klezmer Band and Malenka Choir for the wonderful music, the students from Shrewsbury College for their thought-provoking drama, Sue Phillips and Dr Anne Kershen for their heartfelt words, and Mark Michaels for closing the evening with a traditional prayer.  I would especially like to thank Kal Parkash, and our partners in Severnside Housing, West Mercia Police, Shropshire Fire Service and Shrewsbury College, for their hard work and support putting on this event.”

Holocaust Memorial Day has been commemorated in the UK since 2001, and in 2005 the United Nations declared 27 January as an international day for remembrance and contemporary action.

For more information contact Kal Parkash on 01743 252056, and for background information about why we commemorate the day please visit shropshire.gov.uk/HMD.