Members of our synod were among the many invited from churches and other faith groups in the North East who attended the national commemorative event at the Newcastle Theatre Royal January 28th 2007. As the national focus, was a much larger event than those held in the Region in previous years.
The theme for this year was ‘The same but different'. While the focus was first on those who had survived and those who had lost their lives in the concentration camps of the Second World War, there followed personal accounts from those who belong to the gay, disability, Romany and black communities within our society. They gave moving and starkly frank views of life for individuals during Hitler's terrain, and exposed the opinions and prejudices that still remain in society today.
Each personal account was sandwiched with very reflective and moving music. Chaim Nagelsztajn gave a moving video reflection of his life as a child to adult in Aushwitz and his comming to live in Newcastle. There was also a very moving video form the Roma community who have settled in Benwell Newcastle, demonstrating how two communities have joined as one to support each other and offer peace.
Sadly we were made all too aware that the lessons from the past have not been learnt and genocide still continues: a stark and harsh reminder was given in film format entitled Protect Darfur; and in a brief presentation Secretary of State Ruth Kelly asserted "The Far Right is still with us - in Europe and in the UK."
A especially commissioned and very moving piece of music entitled ‘Candle' which was written for this event was presented by ‘The Shout,' a choir convened from the Sage Gateshead and Newcastle's Canning Street Primary School - where, according to Sir Jeremy beecham who introduced them, pupils speak as many as thirty different languages.
Sir Jonathan Sacks gave the concluding address, summing up the event by stating “The victims cannot cure the crime, the hatred cannot cure the hater. May we stand together fighting prejudice”.
The memorial came to an end with the lighting of a candle by Chaim Nagelsztajn and Tutu Manyena, a pupil from Canning Street School - old and young, black and white standing together as one.
Hannah Middleton