Last Sunday, I had the privilege to join mourners from around the
world to pay my respects to 6 unknown victims of the Shoah –
including a child.
It was an incredibly moving moment, not just for the Jewish
community, but for our entire country.
These holy souls or Kedoshim, were “torn from home” – somewhere
that should have been a place of safety, comfort and security.
They lived and died through one of the darkest chapters in human
history, but rest today in the loving embrace of our Jewish
community here in the UK.
As I reflected on this, I was reminded of my father-in-law, who
escaped Nazi Germany and came to Britain with the help of the MI6
agent, Frank Foley, who’s actions also saved the lives of
thousands of other Jews.
But as we honour the millions of victims of the Shoah today, we
remember those families who weren’t so lucky.
Those who never made it home.
Those who were brutalised and murdered.
Those whose lives were cut short and whose loss provides a stark
and powerful legacy to us all.
A legacy that demands we challenge hatred and bigotry wherever it
exists.
A legacy that requires that we say “never again” we really mean
it.
Sadly, this is a lesson that we are still learning.
40 years ago, the Khmer Rouge claimed the lives of one quarter of
the population through mass murder and starvation.
25 years ago, almost one million Rwandans were murdered in 100
days.
And horror returned to our continent as we witnessed the murder
of over 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica.
We still imagine that these barbarities belong in the history
books.
And yet today – 74 years since the Nazi death camps were
liberated – antisemitism is on the rise, here and abroad.
And Jewish communities are once again living in fear.
This troubles me deeply and must trouble us all.
I want to reassure our Jewish community that you are an intrinsic
part of what makes Britain Great and the government will always
stand by you to challenge bigotry and intolerance…
…and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that future generations
never forget where hatred can lead, and that we will not walk by
on the other side where it is present.
Our new National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will help
us do that - a permanent reminder at the heart of our democracy.
Because we all know: tolerance and reconciliation begins at home
and that we all have our part to play to ensure home is truly a
place of safety, security and of strength.
