Don't stand by - Holocaust remembrance day 2016

The event – to take place in the council chamber – will mark Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD); the national theme this year is ‘don’t stand by’. Members of Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation, Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community and Cheltenham Borough Council, have been working together to organise this act of remembrance which will be followed by an exhibition, curated by Dr Steven Blake.  Tea and coffee will also be served.

Lillie Rowe community engagement officer for inclusion at Cheltenham Borough Council said:  “We are pleased to continue working together with the Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation and Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in Cheltenham and to remember all of the genocides that have impacted on our communities.  HMD is an opportunity to start the process of creating a safer future”. 

Jennifer Silverston from the Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation said: "We can all, in one form or another, not stand by.  We can consider how we treat people of other faiths and people who are different to us, how we support a fair, free and tolerant world and how we reject hate and victimization.  By doing these things we can help prevent the terrible acts that occur when we cease to be civilized."

Jill Rosenheim from the Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community added:  “This is an important event which reminds people of how these terrible crimes came about.  We need to be vigilant and intolerant of discrimination, stereotyping and victimisation”. 

Everyone is welcome to attend; there is no need to book spaces, unless there is a special requirement for a seat to be reserved. Please contact Lillie Rowe, 01242 775156, email [email protected]

For press enquiries contact: Katie Sandey, communications and web team leader, on 01242 775037 or email [email protected]

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January each year, marking the day of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp in 1945.