Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 – Ordinary People

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place on 27th January each year, and there will be a series of events in late January to mark this anniversary.

Tower Hamlets residents are invited to come together to challenge hatred and prejudice through remembering the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. 

Ordinary People is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023. Genocide is facilitated by ordinary people. Ordinary people turn a blind eye, believe propaganda, join murderous regimes.

And those who are persecuted, oppressed and murdered in genocide aren’t persecuted because of crimes they’ve committed – they are persecuted simply because they are ordinary people who belong to a particular group (eg, Roma, Jewish community, Tutsi).

Ordinary People can also make a difference, and did make a difference during the holocaust.

Tower Hamlets Council is working in partnership to deliver a programme of events and activities including film screenings, an inter-faith memorial event and walk to mark this significant date, in line with the theme of ‘Ordinary People’. Keep an eye on this page for full details of all events, venues and timings.

Read more and discover a range of educational resources and other information about opportunities to participate in 2023.

Find out about the Jewish history of Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives have now digitised 16 tapes from their sound collection which relate to the borough’s Jewish history, including rare broadcasts and unique oral histories. You can find details in their December 2022 newsletter and browse the sound collection by going to their online catalogue’s advanced search page.

Past Reflections on Holocaust Memorial Day from the Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum

Download the written reflections from 2022. 

Watch the recorded reflections from 2021 in the following video.