Scotland National Commemorative Event for Holocaust Memorial Day 2018
On Wednesday 24 January the National Commemorative event for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2018 took place in Glasgow.
Organised by Interfaith Scotland, guests heard speeches from First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, the Lord Provost of Glasgow and the Chair of Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Laura Marks OBE.
The event also featured musical performances from Notre Dame School Choir, Glasgow Schools String Ensemble and Dr Lev Atlas from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Students from Rosshall Academy performed drama which focused on genocides that have taken place since the Holocaust.
There was also an exhibition about the Russian city of Rostov on Don which is twinned with Glasgow. It is estimated that between 15,000 and 30,000 Jews from Rostov on Don were massacred between 1942 and 1943. The former Chief Rabbi of Israel and survivor of Buchenwald concentration camp, Rabbi Lau, spoke about the story of Rostov on Don. Aged 7, Rabbi Lau (Lulek at the time) was kept alive by a young boy from Rostov on Don.
Additional HMD activities
During the week leading up to 27 January, other events took place to mark HMD 2018 including a performance at the Royal Conservatoire Glasgow, film screenings for school children, a Youth Conference at St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art in Glasgow, and an event for Glasgow Schools.