Chelmsford’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration event

Chelmsford Jewish Community will be marking Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 with a commemoration event on Thursday 30 January, supported by Chelmsford City Council.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust in 2025

27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day, an International Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides around the world.

The official date of 27 January is the day Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated in 1945. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of this and other concentration and extermination camps, where millions of Jewish, Roma, Sinti, disabled people and other groups had been persecuted by the Nazi regime. Eighty years on, we remember those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, and we continue to give space to those who lived through it to speak about their experiences.

All residents welcome to join commemoration event

Chelmsford City Council is committed to fighting all forms of hate, bigotry and prejudice. In this spirit residents are invited to join Chelmsford Jewish Community's Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration on Thursday 30 January from 7pm, which will be hosted in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre on Duke Street.

This year’s special guest speaker will be Diana Cook, who will relate the story of her mother, Margot Pogorzelski, whose idyllic childhood in Germany changed so dramatically after Hitler came to power.

Diana Cook (left) will share the story of her mother, Margot Pogorzelski (right).

There will also be presentations on the importance of resisting genocide, and a candle lighting ceremony in remembrance of those who lost their lives.

Stan Keller, Chairman of Chelmsford Jewish Community, will once again be leading the event. He says that 80 years on, Holocaust Memorial Day presents a chance to work in partnership to fight against prejudice and hate:

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“This year's Holocaust Memorial Day theme is ‘For a Better Future’. In Chelmsford, this is an important opportunity for us to look at all forms of discrimination – whether by race, religion, colour, gender or disability – and come together to prevent the spread of hatred, which we sadly still see today.”

Stan Keller, Chairman of Chelmsford Jewish Community

Book your space in advance

If you would like to attend Chelmsford Jewish Community's Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration event, please book your space in advance by emailing info@jewishcommunitychelmsford.co.uk with names of all attendees.