A MONTH-long exhibition honouring the rescue of Jews during the Holocaust opened in Worcester on Monday, writes Sam Wadsworth.
The display was accompanied with warnings against antisemitism in modern society.
The stories of rescue during the Holocaust and in 14 different European countries gives voice to both rescuers and survivors, highlighting their courage and resilience.
Speeches were given by several attendees, including the event organisers, Worcestershire Interfaith Forum, Louis Stephen, the Chair of Worcestershire County Council, and Dr Matt Lamb, Mayor of Worcester.
Beata Drazaga, exhibition organiser, flew from Warsaw to attend the event in person.
The exhibition is being sponsored by the University of Worcester and is now open at The Hive and free to view.
This exhibition only exists in two versions – the other being displayed at the United Nations in New York. It is only the second time it has been shown in the UK.
The university has long promoted human rights and inclusion, exemplified when an honorary degree was awarded to Holocaust survivor, campaigner and educator, Mindu Hornick MBE.
Samantha Lewkowicz, Holocaust education officer at the Union of Jewish students, said: “Unfortunately, universities have been far more reluctant to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day in recent years.
“However, as antisemitism continues to grow in the UK and specifically on university campuses, it makes it even more important that we are sharing Holocaust education with university communities.”
Prof David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive at the University of Worcester, also gave an address.
Opening his speech, he shared photographs of a moving memorial plaque, listing the names of 87 children from the 3rd arrondissement in Paris who were taken to Auschwitz and murdered before they had even had the chance to go to school.
The oldest child named was six, and the youngest was just two months old.
Prof Green referenced the attack at Manchester Synagogue and the massacre at Bondi Beach last year.
He said: “Tragically, they took place in a context where antisemitism is growing.
“There’s much more antisemitism, many more incidents and attacks and, if we don’t stand up, there will be much worse to come on a far greater scale.”
The exhibition will be at The Hive until February 28, when it will move to Redditch library.
