'I am only too aware the majority of survivors and refugees will be isolated at home and unable to do justice to what is such a significant anniversary'
April 21, 2020 10:47
The Prince of Wales has said his "heart goes out" to Holocaust survivors who are isolated at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying it left them "unable to do justice’’ to this year’s Yom Hashoah commemorations.
In a video message recorded for Monday evening’s event, which was streamed online and coincided with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen Belsen by the British Army, the Prince of Wales said: "Each year on Yom Hashoah the Jewish community comes together to mourn the heart-breaking loss of six million Jewish men, women and children who were so brutally murdered in the Holocaust.
"This evening as we mark 75 years since liberation I am only too aware the majority of survivors and refugees will be isolated at home and unable to do justice to what this year is such a significant anniversary.’’
Speaking as patron of Holocaust Memorial Day and World Jewish Relief, Prince Charles continued: "Despite the unimaginable horrors they endured and the losses they suffered" in the Shoah, those who had "found a welcome in Britain" had "somehow managed to piece their lives back together to become the leaders and builders of your community, active citizens, and dedicated contributors to wider British society".
He added: "They have been and continue to be shining examples to the world of how it is possible to triumph over adversity.
"Whilst they may consider themselves the lucky ones, when so many did not survive, to us they are simply nothing short of living heroes, who were determined not just to survive but to thrive as they built new lives, new homes and new families here in the United Kingdom.”
Prince Charles had last month spent seven days self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus himself.
In Monday’s message he spoke of "an unprecedented, anxious, and strange time in our lives" but suggested the ‘’faith and resolve’’ of the survivors was an inspiration to us all.
During the ceremony videos of six Holocaust survivors and refugees were shown with Kindertransport refugee Sir Eric Reich, Theresienstadt survivor Joanna Milan, child refugee Isca Wittenberg, Auschwitz and Lieberstadt slave labour camp survivor Mindu Hornick, Auschwitz survivor Sam Laskier and Eva Clarke, who was born in Matthausen Concentration camp lighting a yellow candle, each in memory of those who were murdered in the Shoah.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis discussed rising antisemitism but told the commemoration: “Within the dark clouds of the coronavirus, we can see a silver lining… It is unity.”
Shoah educator Henry Grunwald, who hosted the ceremony, said kaddish after a performance of the El Malei Rachamim by Chazan Jonny Turgel, grandson to the late Gena Turgel, who met her husband upon liberation from Bergen-Belsen and became known as the “Bride of Belsen.”
“We don’t normally say kaddish without a minyan, but the kaddish which we say on Yom HaShoah is of enormous importance to survivors and to the families of survivors,” Grunwald told the livestream before reciting kaddish.
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said: "As we gather, we not only remember the victims of the Shoah, we also pay tribute to the remarkable achievements of the survivors and refugees who fled the Nazis, many of whom will be watching from their homes today.
"We must unite as never before to ensure that these horrors can never be repeated."
Neil Martin OBE, who chairs Yom Hashoah added:''It was vital, despite the obstacles we face, and sadly the large number of coronavirus deaths hitting the Jewish community, that we do remember... but ‘virtually’, and we are truly honoured that The Prince of Wales has agreed to lead the tributes to the brave and inspiring survivors and refugees of our community.”
