Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), is marked each year on 27th January – the anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. On this day schools, communities and faith groups across the UK join together in national and local events to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides.
The theme this year is ‘Ordinary People’ – a simple but stark reminder of what unites us – that ordinary people were perpetrators, they were bystanders, they were rescuers or witnesses – and ordinary people were victims.
What is abnormal is that I am normal. That I survived the Holocaust and went on to love beautiful girls, to talk, to write, to have toast and tea and live my life – that is what is abnormal.
Elie Wiesel, survivor of the Holocaust
The Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) are encouraging people to use this prayer for Holocaust memorial day, 27 January, and throughout the year.
Prayer
Loving God, you care for each and every human life.
All people are cherished as your beloved
children, no matter how ordinary or
extraordinary their stories are.
Today we come before you to
remember the victims of the
Holocaust.
We lament the loss of the six
million Jews who were killed in the
Holocaust, the millions of other
victims of Nazi persecution, and
victims of all genocides.
May our minds be clear and attentive
to their memory, and our hearts be
moved to bear witness to their lives.
Help us all to turn away from hatred
and division, and to build a world
where genocide is no more.
Strengthen us so that we, in our
own ordinary ways, may show
extraordinary love in the world
today.
Amen