Medway’s Powerful Reflection: Honoring Holocaust Memorial Day

The communities in Medway will unite once more to commemorate and pay tribute to the countless individuals who perished during the Holocaust.

Across the nation, memorial services will be conducted to observe Holocaust Memorial Day, which is on Monday, 27 January.

Medway’s remembrance will occur on Tuesday, 28 January at Cliffe Woods School. Refreshments will be available starting at 5.30pm, with the event commencing at 6pm.

Since 2004, the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day in Medway has been collaboratively arranged by Medway Council, Chatham Memorial Synagogue, Rochester Cathedral, and the Medway Inter-Faith Action Forum (MIFA). They have been joined by the Medway Youth Council since 2010.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. In 2015, a commemorative candle was given to Medway’s organizing committee by the HMD Trust, which will be lit every five years.

The candle will be lit at this year’s commemoration by representatives from the synagogue, cathedral, and Cliffe Woods School.

The event will feature presentations, poetry readings, and prayers from local schools, Medway Youth Council, MIFA, Medway’s faith communities, and Kent Police. Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, along with the Deputy Mayor of Medway, Cllr Douglas Hamandishe, will also be present at the service.

Each year, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust designates a theme for the services. This year’s theme is “For a Better Future,” aiming to emphasize the shared responsibility each person holds in shaping a positive future.

Pay tribute to those who have departed

Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, remarked: “Holocaust Memorial Day offers a chance to remember those who lost their lives and those affected by the Holocaust and other atrocities.

“This year’s theme resonates with all communities and calls for collaborative effort. The commemoration event exemplifies this, as people from across Medway unite to pay their respects and honor those who are no longer with us.”

Learn more on the Chatham Memorial Synagogue website.