More than 300 of the Borough’s schoolchildren joined religious leaders, Councillors and residents at a service to pay tribute to the millions that died during the Holocaust.
The service, held at the Holocaust Memorial Garden in Valentines Park, Ilford, was one of thousands taking place across the world during Holocaust Memorial Day – January 27.
It was opened and closed by the Mayor, Councillor Chris Cummins, and was presided by Councillor Alan Weinberg, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services. The service featured readings from schoolchildren, and hymns from the combined choirs of the South West Essex and Resettlement Reform Synagogue and Ilford United Synagogue.
Ivor Perl, a Holocaust Survivor from Hungary, spoke passionately about the horrors of the holocaust and his hope that the young people of today would take on board the atrocities of the past so they would not be repeated in the future.
There was also a poem from Maria Leier, a member of the Roma Support Group, reminding everyone that Roma were among the many different ethnicities and communities that suffered the horrors of the holocaust.
Councillor Keith Prince, Leader of Redbridge Council gave a speech on this year’s HMD theme “Speak Up, Speak Out” which encourages us to speak out against racism and discrimination in all its forms.
He said: “The right to speak up may seem an uncomplicated concept, but the Untold Stories of the past have shown us that voices have been taken away, and are ignored or still silenced today.
“Holocaust Memorial Day asks us all to Speak Up, Speak Out to share the lessons of the past and the present and to use our voices to create a safer and better future."
The crowd, which included MPs Mike Gapes and Lee Scott and Councillor Jas Athwal, Leader of Redbridge Labour Group, heard prayers from the Rabbi I G Hyman from Ilford United Synagogue and a speech from the Mayor’s Chaplain Reverend Dr Liz Horwell, from Christ Church, Wanstead.
Wreaths were laid in the memorial garden and students concluded the ceremony with a reading of the Statement of Commitment, a series of pledges that remind us to remember the holocaust and other more recent genocides and learn lessons from the past to make the world a better place.
For more information on Holocaust Memorial Day visit the Holocaust Memorial Day page.