York is marking Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 today with an event at York St John University.
Hosted by the Lord Mayor and civic party, this informal evening will include speeches from Lord Alf Dubs, Dr Alessandro Bucci and a reading of the Seven Commitments.
Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 is embracing the national theme, ‘For a Better Future’.
This year the event marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.
Lord Dubs was one of hundreds of mainly Jewish, children saved by British stockbroker Nicholas Winton and others, from the Nazis on the Kindertransport between March and September 1939.
At York St John, the programme will also include a performance by drama students.
It runs from 5.30pm to 8pm, and you can book your place here.
The event follows York Minister’s annual 600 candles commemoration last week.
And this Wednesday (29 January) at 6.30pm, there’s an online lecture, ‘My Family in Exile’, by Dame Stephanie Shirley .
Dame Stephanie will share her family’s experience of escaping Nazi persecution, their life as refugees, and her remarkable journey from a child of the Kindertransport to one of the UK’s most influential entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
You can book your free spot here.
Finally, the annual Clifford’s Tower Commemoration will be held on Sunday 16 March at Clifford’s Tower, to commemoration the 1190 massacre of York’s Jewish population at the site.
The event will be attended by the Lord Mayor and Civic Party, with music, spoken accounts and contributions, concluding with prayer and an act of remembrance.
Cllr Katie Lomas, executive member for finance, performance, major projects, human rights, equality and inclusion, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day provides us all with an opportunity to join together to remember and reflect on atrocities of the past as well as an opportunity to work together towards a more peaceful future, free from hatred and oppression.
“This year’s programme provides both online and in-person events, making it as easy as possible for everyone to get involved. Thanks to all our partners across the city who have helped put the programme together.”
Sam Borin, Holocaust Memorial Day steering committee chair, said: “I’m very excited about our programme of events this year, and the range of community partners who are making these events possible. It shows that the City of York and its people stand united against hatred, racist violence and genocide.”