Honoring Holocaust Memorial Day: A Call to Reflection and Remembrance for Our Borough’s Community

Stockton Central Library is set to host a unique occasion to commemorate this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), where residents of the Borough can engage in reflection and remembrance.

This international observance occurs annually on January 27 to honor the six million Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust, together with the millions of others who perished under Nazi oppression and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Bosnia genocide.

The theme for this year, ‘For a Better Future’, emphasizes the chance for individuals to unite, learn from history, and take steps towards creating a brighter future for everyone.

Residents and guests are invited to join the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Councillor John Gardner, alongside other dignitaries, for the Holocaust Memorial event at Stockton Central Library from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM on Thursday, January 23.

Susie Kaufman will share her parents’ and stepfather’s accounts, Ronnie, Eva, and Kurt, of survival after they escaped Nazi oppression, becoming child refugees amid the war.

A student ambassador from the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project will also provide insights based on a personal visit to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

To conclude the evening, hosted by the Mayor, a remembrance candle will be lit to honor those who faced persecution and lost their lives.

The event, organized with the assistance of Shabana Marshall, Educator for the Holocaust Education Trust, is free but requires tickets, and spaces are limited. Tickets can be obtained at book a library event

Notable landmarks in Stockton-on-Tees, including the Town Centre, Riverside, and Newport Bridge, will also be illuminated in purple on the evening of Saturday, January 25, in recognition of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, stated: “This marks our third commemorative event for World Holocaust Day, and this continues to hold tremendous significance.

“Such occasions aim to educate our younger generations to prevent these heinous acts from being forgotten and, more importantly, to ensure they are not repeated.

“The memorial event at Stockton Central Library will offer insight into the Holocaust and provide a chance to honor the lives and experiences of those impacted by the Holocaust and genocide.

“There will also be a focus on showing compassion and understanding toward refugees, which remains pertinent today, so I encourage everyone to attend.”

On Holocaust Memorial Day itself, at 8 PM, households throughout the country are encouraged to safely light candles in their windows to commemorate those lost and to stand against prejudice and hatred in the present.