Havering residents urged to honour Holocaust Memorial Day by joining an online service.

Havering residents are being urged to honour Holocaust Memorial Day by joining an online service on Sunday 24th of January.

Havering Council has worked with Rabbi Lee Sunderland, the Rabbi of Romford and District Synagogue, to produce a virtual commemorative service to mark the important occasion.

The Holocaust Memorial Day service usually takes place in Coronation Gardens, Romford, but cannot go ahead as usual due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The virtual service will premiere on the Council’s Facebook and YouTube channels at 2pm on Sunday 24th of January, ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on Wednesday 27th of January, where further tributes will be paid to commemorate the day.

This year’s theme for Holocaust Memorial Day is “Be the Light in the Darkness”. It encourages everyone to reflect on the depths that humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities resisted that darkness to ‘be the light’ before, during and after genocide.

Mayor of Havering, Councillor John Mylod, said:

“Whilst the normal Holocaust Memorial Day service cannot go ahead, it’s important we still pause and reflect on the millions of victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

“It’s also a reminder that we must all be that light in the darkness. We each have a responsibility to end discrimination and work for a safer, better, future for everyone. “

For more information visit www.havering.gov.uk/HMD