Cambridge Marking of Holocaust Memorial Day 2021

27th January 2021 and 31st January 2021

On Holocaust Memorial Day itself, Wednesday 27th January, we will be marking the day in 4 ways across the city, culminating in an illuminating talk by the author and broadcaster, Michael Rosen: 

1. With online events in schools

2. Unveiling our new poem commissioned for the occasion by our Poet in Residence, Michael Rosen, called 'Be the Light in the Darkness'

3.  Lighting up the Guildhall purple at 4pm

4. Michael Rosen will give an evening talk at 8pm about 'The Missing' Uncles of his childhood and his journey as an adult to find out about what really happened to his relatives murdered in World War 2 by the Nazis.  To join in this special free event with Michael Rosen, please know we'll ask for a donation to Refugee Charity when you go to: EVENTBRITE

For the Holocaust Memorial Day civic ceremony, we will hold the event as usual on the Sunday closest to HMD, this year it will be on Sunday 31st January at 5pm online HERE.  We will explore the theme 'Be the Light in the Darkness' by making our voices heard as 'Voices of Hope'. Young people from across Cambridge have participated through song, music, poetry, dance, art, drama, story-telling inspired by learning about the Holocaust from the Historian, Helen Weintein; Poet and Author, Michael Rosen, and Holocaust survivor, Eva Clarke. 

HMD 27th Jan 4pm Guildhall Lighting by the Mayor

To mark Holocaust Memorial Day whilst we are in lockdown during the Covid pandemic, it is not going to be possible for the communities to come together in Cambridge at a big venue to commemorate.  Last year in 2020 we were at the Corn Exchange, the year before in 2019 at Great St Mary's, and in 2018 at the Guildhall.  

Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Russ McPherson says:

"It is important that we make the 2021 Holocaust Memorial Day memorable as it is a very important event in our civic calendar, supported by all of our city councillors, and now reaching thousands of young people and school children through the Holocaust Education programme at Historyworks.  Therefore, to make 2021 memorable there will be landmarks in the UK lit up in purple to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, and we are very pleased to be part of this national illumination.  In Cambridge, it will be the Guildhall on Market Square that I'll light purple from 4pm at dusk on Wednesday 27th January, on Holocaust Memorial Day itself, which will then remain illuminated in purple until the evening of Sunday 31st January when we hold our HMD Cambridge civic ceremony.  

The civic event will be a free online event, on Sunday 31st January starting at 5pm, and we hope that many individuals and households across Cambridge will join us.  There are several ways you can participate before-hand  (find details HERE) by joining the virtual choir to sing We Are One World, making artworks to exhibit as part of the ceremony,writing a poem or song or rap, donating to our fundraising for refugees and people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge, or putting up a picture saying HOPE in your front window.  

Viewing the event online you can reflect on the Holocaust commemoration when you'll hear new poems by Michael Rosen, watch dances, hear songs, view artwork, listen to testimony from those who've experienced the Holoaust, and you yourself can join in by lighting a candle at home when I'll do so as your Mayor, and will invite everyone at home to do so too!"

Michael Rosen - 'Be the Light in the Darkness

HMD 27th Jan 8pm Talk by Michael Rosen

Michael Rose talk at 8pm on Wednesday January 27th 2021 about 'The Missing - My family's Experience of the Holocaust and My Journey to Find Out What Happened'

Please note in your diary that HistoryWorks has organized for Michael Rosen to be our speaker on Holocaust Memorial Day itself suitable for aged over 10 to 100.  At 8pm in the evening, Michael’s Rosen talk will be be free online telling his own story of ‘The Missing. My family’s experience of the Holocaust’ which will be illustrated with personal photographs. All are welcome and there will be a Q&A at the end. It is a free event and we ask only for charity donations for Cambridge Charities supporting Refugees and People Experiencing Homelessness.  Find out more information about the talk plus sign-up via email from where you'll be sent a zoom link at Eventbrite here.

HMD 31st January Civic Ceremony 5pm Online

If you wish to join the online civic commemoration, please be bringing a candle out ready to light in order to participate in the community gathering from home.

Join us for the Civic Holocaust Memorial Event 5pm Sunday 31st January 2021 

Please join us for the civic commemoration, which will be an uplifting community event illustrated with songs, poetry, music, art, dance.  It will be an online event commencing at 5pm on Sunday 31^st January. HistoryWorks is producing the Holocaust Memorial Commemoration on behalf of the Mayor and Cambridge City Council.  Michael Rosen and Holocaust Survivor, Eva Clarke will be our narrators. To join in we’ll ask people to have a candle ready to light if they wish as a way of bringing the community together virtually. We'll have the online event launched at 5pm on Sunday 31st.