London’s City Hall became a place of reflection and remembrance on 19 January, as Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the Deputy Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff AM, hosted a

special service ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January.

The annual commemoration brought together Jewish community leaders, Holocaust survivors, and survivors of more recent genocides. Delivered in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and the Holocaust Educational Trust, the service honoured the millions of victims of the Holocaust and paid tribute to all those affected by genocide around the world.

This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme, “Bridging Generations,” was central to the ceremony. The theme highlights the importance of listening to survivors, learning from the past, and ensuring that remembrance continues as survivor voices become fewer. Speakers emphasised that the responsibility to remember does not end with those who lived through these atrocities.

Among the most powerful moments were personal testimonies from survivors. Holocaust survivor Annick Lever BEM shared her story of survival after being smuggled out of prison by her father while awaiting deportation to the Drancy transit camp in Nazi-occupied France. Safet Vukalić BEM, a survivor of the Bosnian genocide, also spoke, drawing connections between past and present and underscoring the universal consequences of hatred and persecution.

The Mayor delivered a reading during the service, alongside contributions from Andrew Boff AM, Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, and Anna Bradford, Interim Chief Programmes and Outreach Officer. Their reflections focused on remembrance, education, and the need to confront prejudice in all its forms.

Young ambassadors from the Holocaust Educational Trust also took part, reflecting on their experiences in the Lessons from Auschwitz programme. Regional Ambassador Amberley Thay delivered the Statement of Commitment, reaffirming a pledge to remember the victims and challenge intolerance today.

The ceremony included the El Male Rachamim memorial prayer, read by Rabbi Nick Kett of Radlett United Synagogue. A memorial candle was then lit by Annick Lever BEM and Safet Vukalić BEM, symbolising remembrance and hope. Musical performances by Canadian singer Lenka Lichtenberg, of Czech-Jewish heritage, opened and closed the service, adding a poignant and reflective atmosphere.

In addition, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s exhibition “80 Candles for 80 Years” is currently on display in London’s Living Room at City Hall, offering visitors a further opportunity to reflect on eight decades since the liberation of Auschwitz and the enduring importance of remembrance.

Holocaust Memorial Day is observed each year on 27 January, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and serving as a reminder of the need to stand against hatred, antisemitism, and all forms of genocide.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of the atrocities of the past and the shared responsibility that we all carry to ensure that such horrors are never repeated. City Hall’s annual service provides an important moment for us all to hear from survivors and ensure that their experiences are passed on to future generations. As we continue to battle against the scourge of antisemitism and hatred across the globe, their message is more vital than ever. I will continue to do everything in my power to unite communities and show that there is no place for hate in our city, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”

Deputy Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff said: “The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial - ‘Bridging Generations’ - emphasises that the responsibility of remembering and educating ourselves about the horrors and brutality of the holocaust and genocide is a shared one. As the passage of time since the grim events of the Holocaust widens, the cherished opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from survivors and their descendants diminishes; however, we mustn't allow time or distance to desensitise us to the devastating consequences of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in the world.”

Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust said: "We are delighted to be partnering with City Hall to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, helping to ensure that remembrance remains visible, meaningful and relevant for people across the City of London. At a time when antisemitism and prejudice are rising in the UK, Holocaust Memorial Day brings communities from all backgrounds, ages and beliefs together to remember the past and stand against hatred in the present.”

Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators;  and we honour the survivors who rebuilt their lives while coming to terms with unimaginable loss. Over 80 years on, the Holocaust is fading further into history and the responsibility of safeguarding the memory of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust passes firmly on to the next generation.

This Holocaust Memorial Day comes at a time of growing concern for Jewish communities around the world. Remembering the persecution and murder of Jewish people in the past remains essential, but it must be accompanied by an urgency to challenge antisemitism today and confront its causes. Today, Londoners stood together in remembrance, underscoring our shared responsibility to carry this memory forward.” Photo by pam fray / Holocaust Memorial Garden, Hyde Park / CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia commons.