David Cesarani, the English historian who specialised in Jewish history and the Holocaust, has died at the age of 58.
Mr Cesarani, who had contributed to the JC many times, was considered a pioneer in Holocaust education.
He wrote and edited over a dozen books including After Eichmann: Collective Memory and the Holocaust since 1961, The Final Solution: Origins and Implementation, Justice Delayed: How Britain became a refuge for Nazi war criminals and The Making of Modern Anglo-Jewry.
He was also the author of the official history of the Jewish Chronicle: The 'Jewish Chronicle' and Anglo-Jewry 1841-1991.
A research professor in history at Royal Holloway, University of London, he also advised the Home Office unit responsible for Holocaust memorial day and was a member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office delegation to the Intergovernmental Taskforce for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research.
In 2005, Mr Cesarani was awarded an OBE for "services to Holocaust Education and advising the government with regard to the establishment of Holocaust Memorial Day”.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:“I will always be incredibly grateful to David Cesarani for his brilliant and passionate contribution to the work of the Holocaust Commission.
"David was one of the great pioneers of Holocaust education and he had a profound influence on how we remember the darkest hour of human history.
"I hope the new National Memorial to the Holocaust together with its accompanying learning centre will help to continue the vital work to which David dedicated so much of his life.”
Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chairman of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation said: "It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of David Cesarani OBE. He will be missed by many.
"As one of Britain's leading scholars in Jewish History and the Holocaust, David dedicated his life's work to enhancing our understanding of humanity's darkest hour. His work with the Prime Minister's Holocaust Commission and resulting Foundation was truly invaluable, offering counsel on how to teach further generations of the warnings of the Holocaust, sharing his expertise in Holocaust education."
Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said: "David Cesarani was a pioneer in Holocaust scholarship and education.
"We worked in close partnership with him for many years, including on the introduction of the first Holocaust educational resource to be used in British schools. His vast expertise, knowledge and wisdom - which garnered the respect of Holocaust experts around the world - will be sorely missed. We mourn the loss of a guiding light and a great friend. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family."
The Board of Deputies described Mr Cesarani as 'a giant in his field'.
In a statement they said: “We are shocked and saddened to hear of the death of David Cesarani at the age of only 58. He was a giant in his field, producing ground-breaking work on Jewish history and the Holocaust and was also a pioneer in the field of Holocaust education for which he richly deserved the OBE he was awarded 10 years ago. Our thoughts go out to his wife Dawn and their children Daniel and Hannah.”
