Holocaust Memorial Day is on Wednesday 27 January, but like the rest of the world, it will have be done in a different way.
“In normal times, we would have held our service at Crompton War Memorial with members from the community, but due to the national lockdown and previous tier restrictions, this year we will have to remember at home,” said Liberal Democrat Shaw and Crompton District Lead, Councillor Diane Williamson.
This year’s theme is ‘Be the light in the darkness’ and it encourages everyone to reflect on the depths humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities resisted that darkness to ‘be the light’ before, during and after genocide.
It is also an affirmation and a call to action for everyone marking H.M.D. This theme asks us to consider different kinds of ‘darkness’, for example, identity-based persecution, misinformation, denial of justice; and different ways of ‘being the light’ – resistance, acts of solidarity, rescue and illuminating mistruths.
Increasing levels of denial, division and misinformation in today’s world mean we must remain vigilant against hatred and identity-based hostility. Rapid technological developments, a turbulent political climate, and world events beyond our control can leave us feeling helpless and insignificant. The utterly unprecedented times through which we are living currently are showing the very best of which humanity is capable but also – in some of the abuse and conspiracy theories being spread on social media – the much darker side of our world as well.
There is a service online – hosted by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust starting at 7pm, as well as a Greater Manchester Holocaust Memorial Day service at 10am.
Cllr Williamson added: “Because we are not holding a service, it does not mean that we are going to forget. Instead of placing a stone at Crompton War Memorial, I shall be lighting a candle at 8pm and I will place a stone at the side of it. The act of placing visitation stones is significant in Jewish bereavement practices. Small stones are placed by people as an act of remembrance or respect for the deceased; the stone is places using the left hand. I hope you can join me in this act of remembrance during this pandemic.”