Holocaust Memorial Day is taking place on Thursday 27 January, and you are invited to join the online commemoration event.
Taking place from 10am to 12pm on Microsoft Teams, residents can join thousands of people around the country who will be taking part in local and national events to learn more about the past.
Councillor Sharon Blank, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for governance, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is for everyone and gives us the chance to learn about past events and build a better future for all.
“We are proud to be teaming up with the Chesterfield Equality and Diversity Forum again to host this important event online. I encourage as many people as possible to attend the virtual event and also sign the online book of remembrance.”
This year’s guest speaker at the event organised by Chesterfield Equality and Diversity Forum and Chesterfield Borough Council is Anita Peleg who will be speaking about her mother, Naomi Blake.
Naomi was born in 1924 in Czechoslovakia. In April 1944, Naomi and her family were transported in the notorious cattle trains to Auschwitz where many of her family members died in the gas chambers.
She and her sister were sent to Brahnau concentration camp to work. After escaping from her Nazi captors Naomi returned home to find that her home was in ruins and 17 family members, including 10 young nieces and nephews had been murdered.
Anita will be using audio testimony of Naomi, historical photos and images of Naomi’s sculptures that demonstrate the strength of the human spirit to survive against the odds and provide a positive legacy for the future.
You can also contribute to this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day Book of Remembrance online.
The virtual event is open to all and is free of charge, but places are limited.
If you would like to attend the event, which will take place via Microsoft Teams, please contact: allison.potter@chesterfield.gov.uk
