Scotland Office Minister marked Holocaust Memorial
Day by urging Scots to "unite in the stand against hatred,
intolerance and prejudice"
This year's Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is the 80th anniversary
since the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp,
Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Events are taking place across Scotland, the UK and worldwide to
remember the six million Jewish men, women and children
who were murdered in the Holocaust, other victims of Nazi
persecution and those who died in subsequent genocides.
Increasing education about the danger of discrimination and
preventing the spread of hatred is a key objective of the
activity.
The UK Government is committed to supporting all communities so
they can live and worship safely - and through the Plan for
Change will deliver a decade of national renewal, providing
opportunity for all.
Among the events in Scotland, Minister McNeill visited
the Scottish Jewish Heritage
Centre and Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow ahead of HMD.
Here she heard more about the community's history and vast
contributions to life in Scotland, the venue's Holocaust
education programmes and modern day antisemitism challenges.
The Minister also hosted a pre-HMD event at the UK Government's
Edinburgh hub, Queen Elizabeth House, with Gillian Field -
daughter of Holocaust survivors Henry
Wuga MBE and Ingrid Wolff BEM.
Here a captivated audience heard Gillian describe the story of
how her parents met in Glasgow after they were brought to
the city in 1939, aged 15, through Kindertransport - a rescue
operation that moved Jewish children from Nazi-controlled Europe
to safety in Britain.
Both her parents deservedly received honours for their services
to Holocaust education and Gillian now continues their legacy by
shining a light on Jewish life across Scotland.
Minister McNeill said:
The annual Holocaust Memorial Day is a moment for us all to
pause, reflect, and remember the six million Jews murdered during
the Holocaust. It also commemorates other victims of Nazi
persecution, those who died in more recent genocides, and
educates about the importance of continuing to unite in the stand
against hatred, intolerance and prejudice.
For the past 200 years the Jewish community has made a
significant contribution to life in Scotland, a nation which I'm
proud to say played a key role in providing sanctuary to so many
refugees. It was a privilege to meet community leaders at the
Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre and Garnethill Synagogue and hear
of their excellent work. My conversations with them and Gillian
Field fill me with hope that the horrors of the past will never
be forgotten and that love and respect continue to be the values
by which our diverse range of Scottish communities enjoy their
lives.
To mark HMD communities and organisations from across the UK are
taking part in events including ones by the Holocaust Memorial Day
Trust - the charity established and funded by the UK
Government to promote and support HMD.
HMD also commemorates the victims of more recent genocides of
Rwanda, Srebrenica, and acts of genocide in Cambodia and against
the Yazidi people.
The BBC is marking HMD with programmes across tv, radio
and online, as well as full coverage of the Auschwitz Ceremony
from Poland and commemorative events across the UK.
Further information
- The Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre, located within
Garnethill Synagogue, houses Scotland's Jewish Archive Centre and
tells the story of Jewish life in Scotland.
Garnethill Synagogue, opened in 1879, is Scotland's oldest
purpose-built synagogue and is Category A listed.
- The centre plays a vital role in Holocaust education and
preserving the memories of Jewish refugees who made Scotland
their home.
- Minister McNeill was shown around the synagogue and centre by
manager Kerry Patterson and Lionel Most, chair of the centre.
