By Linda Albin
Chair of Norwich Liberal Jewish Community (NLJC)

This year, on Holocaust Memorial Day in Norwich, we both observed (shamor) and remembered (zakhor) the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, the six million Jews (including my family) and others murdered by the Nazis, and those who survived and bore witness for those who did not.

We also remembered more recent genocides in Bosnia and Rwanda, as well as the innocent victims of war in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan.

I was fortunate enough to attend two commemorations. One at St Peter Mancroft in Norwich, where the service was led by the Reverend Dr Fiona Haworth, NLJC’s Rabbi Martina Loreggian and Rabbi Roderick Young (pictured top). The most interesting and perhaps important aspect of the day was the panel discussion afterwards, with young people from Notre Dame High School. Their enthusiasm to listen, learn, and engage was truly heartening.

The second event was sponsored by the Norwich branch of the Council for Christians and Jews (CCJ) at the Norwich High School for Girls. This year’s theme, ‘Remember- For a Better Future,’ was exemplified by the contribution of young musicians (pictured right) who played so movingly in between the personal testimonies of those whose families paid the highest price for simply being Jews.

At this time I think of my cousin, Rachel, who survived Auschwitz. It was she who was able to tell what happened to our family. I wear, around my neck, a small gold ingot engraved with the number she had tattooed on her arm-31968.

Rachel also used to go into schools to tell kids about the Holocaust, and so for me to have been on a panel, here in the UK, doing what she did, made it an especially emotional and important experience.

The participation by so many at both events gives hope that through our words and deeds, we may say, NEVER AGAIN!