James Brokenshire ‘cared deeply’ about Holocaust education - The Jewish Chronicle

Jewish groups have paid tribute to former communities secretary James Brokenshire, who died on Thursday aged 53.

The father of three, diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018, had been at Darent Valley Hospital in Kent since Sunday when his condition worsened, his family said.

Holocaust remembrance groups noted his commitment to commemorating victims of the Shoah.

Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, described him as "a very decent man who cared deeply about Holocaust education and commemoration."

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said he was “steadfast supporter" of HET.

She said that “throughout his time as an MP and in the Cabinet, he always championed our cause” and that he enjoyed spending time with survivors and young ambassadors.

The Association of Jewish Refugees recalled how he "spoke passionately about Holocaust remembrance at our Kindertransport Forum in 2019."

Mr Brokenshire visited Buchenwald in 2019, took part in HET’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project and spoke at Holocaust Memorial Day events in 2014 and 2015.

He opened up about his family’s “personal connection” to the Holocaust during a visit to Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in Hendon in 2019.

His father-in-law, Michael Mamelok, was helped out of Germany during the Second World War by MI6 agent Frank Foley, he told a meeting of survivors and Jewish Care volunteers at the time.

Mr Brokenshire was also a keen supporter of plans to erect a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, often speaking publicly in favour of the project.

The proposal, which drew objections from heritage groups, was approved in the summer.

Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl noted his “strong support for our community” both as communities secretary and throughout his career while Jewish Leadership Council co-chair Claudia Mendoza said he was "always generous with his time, committed to the Jewish community, and solutions driven."

He is being remembered by the Community Security Trust as "a true and unwavering friend of CST and the Jewish community."

A statement from Mitzvah Day on Twitter noted he had been a "huge supporter".

Jewish veterans group AJEX said he was a "great friend" and recalled his participation in its annual parade and ceremony in 2018.

"Our thoughts are with his wife Cathy and three children at this sad and difficult time.

"He will particularly be in our thoughts at this year's AJEX Parade in November," it said.