"Somebody has to survive to tell the tale, unless you hear
it from somebody who was there, how could you believe
it?"
Dora Love, survivor
We are the shoes, we are the last witnesses.
We are shoes from grandchildren and grandfathers
From Prague, Paris and Amsterdam,
And because we are only made of fabric and leather
And not of blood and flesh,
Each one of us avoided the hellfire
Moshe Szulsztein, Yiddish Poet
Theme
The theme for Holocaust Memorial
Day 2008 is ‘Imagine... remember, reflect, react’. This
challenges us all to imagine the unimaginable. It asks us to
focus on the lives and experience of victims and survivors of
the Holocaust; of Nazi persecution and of other genocides. It
invites us to find new and creative ways to express this
experience through art and media. It marvels at the resilience
of enterprise, culture and of life itself in the face of
destruction. Ultimately it is a call to action for us all
to:
- Remember the past
- Reflect on the present
- React to create a better future
Exhibition
Holocaust Memorial Day was commemorated in Ipswich's Corn Exchange.
Robert Cross Hall hosted a 3-day exhibition of displays that
included: Judaism; Roma/Gypsy; Race/Ethnicity; Jehovah’s Witnesses;
Black people’s experience; Mental Health and other Disabilities;
Trade Unions; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender; county
library materials on Holocausts, Inter-faith materials; and
more.
An art installation, called 'Strings', featured artworks,
poetry, photographs and video by Israeli-born artist Ron
Kirkpatrick, inspired by and in collaboration with local survivor
Frank Bright.
Over 150 people attended the exhibition on Sunday 27 January, which
included an historical overview from Elizabeth Sugarman; a minute's
silence followed by a talk from Dora Love, Holocaust survivor;
Juliana Meyer's "Never Again", a commissioned piece sung with
Amberfield School choir; and speakers about the Black and Pagan
experience of the Holocaust.
A series of Holocaust connected films were shown in the Hollywood
Cinema, Screen 2.
Raising awareness
All entering Robert Cross Hall were offered a Holocaust
Memorial Day sticker to commemorate the event.
Pictures from the event
Photographer: Colin Thomas Kirby
The Table: Northgate performing arts students |
Dora Love talking to Copleston, Holbrook and
Northgate Students about her experiences |
The Memorial Book: Cllr Inga Lockington, Mayor of
Ipswich, and Cllr Bill Sadler, Chairman of Suffolk County Council,
sign the Memorial Book |
Juliana Meyer performs with Capella Nova "Never
Again", specially commissioned for HMD
2008. |
Resources and downloads
Sponsored by: Suffolk Interfaith Resource (SIFRE), Suffolk
Constabulary, CSV, Ipswich Borough Council, and Suffolk County
Council.