East End marks Holocaust memorial day with services in Tower Hamlets

Holocaust memorial service at East London Central Synagogue in Whitechapel (Image: Archant)

The interfaith event, held at East London Central Synagogue in Whitechapel on January 26, saw residents commemorate the extermination of Jewish people and others in Nazi death camps during the Second World War.

Holocaust memorial service at East London Central Synagogue in Whitechapel (Image: Archant)

The ceremony, which included readings and music, followed a memorial service at City Hall in Southwark on January 20, which was attended by Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman.

The council is running several events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day from January 24 to February 4, and will also remember genocides and atrocities committed in Rwanda, Bosnia and Cambodia.

Mr Rahman said: “This is a day for us to keep alive the memory of the terrible crime perpetrated by the Nazis on the Jewish people.”

He added: “It is important to not only remember the suffering inflicted during the barbaric events, but to make a commitment to eradicate all forms of discrimination, racism and hatred.”

The day’s events also included a Jewish East End: World War II and the Holocaust walk and music from Shtetl Superstars Unplugged at Rich Mix in Bethnal Green Road.

A remembrance evening was held at Stepney Jewish Community Centre in Beaumont Grove on January 28, and Idea Store Bow screened a selection of short films on January 27.

Tower Hamlets Local History Library in partnership with Jewish East End Celebration Society are running an exhibition called Stepney in Peace and War of paintings by Jewish philanthropist Rose L Henriques until March 6.

Another exhibition, A Survivor’s Journey, is on at the Brady Arts Centre in Hanbury Street, Whitechapel, with paintings by Holocaust survivor and Hungarian artist Moshe Galili until February.

For a full list of events visit www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/arts.