The Jewish East End Celebration Society, supported by the Borough of Tower Hamlets, is organising a programme of events for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2007. All events listed are free, and open to the public. The theme of HMD 2007 is “The Dignity of Difference."

The Holocaust, Second World War and Jewish East End Walk

Sunday 21st January

A walk led by East End expert, and registered Corporation of London walking guide, Clive Bettington (author of Cultural Walks of the Vanishing Jewish East End published by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets). The walk, beginning in Aldgate, will cover the Battle of Cable Street and will feature stories on the lives of prominent local Holocaust survivors such as Leon Greenman. The walk will end at the Mile End Genesis, in time for the screening of the Holocaust-related film.

Special film screening of “The Long March”

Sunday 21st January

A special screening of “The Long March”, the true story of East End born Holocaust survivor Leon Greenman (Auschwitz 98288). The film tells the story of Leon, his wife Esther and son Barney and their deportation from their home in Rotterdam via the Dutch Transit Camp, Westerbork, to Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. We hope that Leon will join us after the film for a special question and answer session. 

Tower Hamlets HMD Interfaith Commemoration

Sunday 21st January

An interfaith event at the East London Central (Nelson Street) Synagogue, with representatives from the Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum speaking on the topic of “The Dignity of Difference” from the perspective of their own faith community with a flagship address by Leon Greenman. Light refreshments served from 14:45.

Tower Hamlets HMD Event

Thursday 25th January

The Tower Hamlets HMD event this year will be at the Stepney Jewish Community Centre. It is free, and will mark the theme of HMD 2007: “The Dignity of Difference.” We will hear the testimony of Holocaust survivor Henry Obstfeld, Chairman of the Child Survivors Association, as well as an address from Max Levitas, former Stepney councillor and a veteran of the Battle of Cable Street. There will be a programme of readings, a candle-lighting ceremony and music from Morpeth School. Food and drink supplied.

Tower Hamlets Holocaust Memorial Day Shabbat Commemorative Service

Saturday 27th January

The Congregation of Jacob Synagogue will host a commemorative service on Holocaust Memorial Day, with a special kaddish to remember all the victims of the Holocaust. As well, the service will remember the life of John Weiner, a Holocaust survivor from Australia and a previous participant in the Tower Hamlets HMD programme. Refreshments will be served following the service.

Remembering the Holocaust exhibition

From Monday 8th January to Friday 2nd February

Participating Venues: to be confirmed, but to include The Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Queen Mary's University Chapel, The Soanes Centre in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Christ Church in Limehouse

An exhibition of the paintings of Paul Winner, artist at large for Holocaust Memorial Day. Inspired by Marc “Chagall as well as the many young artists who were themselves incarcerated in concentration and death camps and whose works bring dramatically to life the tragedy of death”, the paintings of Paul Winner provide a haunting reminder of the Holocaust.  For more information see www.paulwinnerart.co.uk.
We will be exhibiting individual paintings, in venues across Tower Hamlets (see above). The paintings will be collected and exhibited together for the first time at Jewish Care’s Stepney Community Centre until 2nd February 2008. Opening times as below:

Information on all the events will also be posted on www.jeecs.org.uk