Last week, Holocaust Memorial Day was commemorated around the country, marking the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. UJS, in partnership with the National Union of Students and the Anne Frank Trust, held its first national Holocaust Memorial Day at the ‘Anne Frank + You’ exhibition, kindly offered by the Director of the Anne Frank Trust, Gillian Walnes MBE.
Speaking at the event was Gillian, Wes Streeting (President of NUS) and Eva Kugler. Eva’s inspiring and unusual story of survival and her message of hope to the attendees reflected the proactive atmosphere around the event.
At the end of the evening, the Anne Frank Trust and the National Union of Students announced the launch of the ‘Don’t Just Vote...Think’ campaign for campuses and FE institutions in the run up to the election. UJS is proud to support and endorse this positive message and hopes that other faith societies and Student Unions nationwide will take up the message too.
Across the country, over 30 universities held Holocaust Memorial Day events involving Jewish students. Leeds had a week of memorial events, with over 150 students attending to hear a survivor last Monday. The Cambridge Union was host to Denis Avey and Dr. James Smith. Cardiff had a survivor of the Holocaust, whilst Kings College London are holding a big event tonight. Nottingham University hosted a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. This is to name but five, and UJS is honoured to be able to work with such committed students on such an important cause.
