QMU hosts Holocaust Memorial Day
The memorial event, which will give people the opportunity to remember the six million Jews that were persecuted and murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators, as well as other instances of genocide, will be held at Queen Margaret University (QMU) on the 29th January. The theme of this year’s memorial day at QMU is ‘How can life go on?’
This year, the team at QMU will again screen the film ‘Look to the Sky’, which is loosely based on Jona Oberski’s book ‘A Childhood’, which gives an account of his traumatic childhood in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam and his experiences in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. After the screening, people will have the opportunity to ask Dr Oberski questions via a virtual video-link about how his life could go on and how his childhood experiences have shaped his further life. His son, Iddo, who is a senior lecturer at Queen Margaret University, will facilitate the session. Iddo was just 12 years old when he read the book his father wrote about his war time experiences. Discussing the book, Iddo said: “It opened up a world to me that was beyond my worst nightmares.” ( Please consider carefully if this is suitable for your children. The movie has not been rated, but the story and the images may be upsetting.)
In light of some of the recent events which have taken place across the globe, as well as the terrible genocides of the Shoah, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, it seems fitting that Holocaust Memorial Day will offer people space for reflection. Importantly, it will provide the opportunity to discuss how human beings everywhere can learn to live with each other and work together to build a better future for all.
It is hoped that the QMU event will raise awareness of national Holocaust Memorial Day and the charity involved in the promotion of the event - The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT)
The Holocaust Memorial Day event will take place in the Halle Lecture Theatre, Queen Margaret University on Sunday 29 th January 2017 from 2.45pm – 5.30pm. The event, which will involve a film screening, poetry, music and Q & As, is run by QMU’s International Forum for the Study of Planned Events within the Centre of Applied Social Studies, QMU’s Centre for Academic Practice and the University and College Union QMU Branch.
This event is free, but prior registration is required. For further information and registration please contact: QMU events team E: events@qmu.ac.uk
The team will collect children's reading books, stationery, school bags etc as donations for refugee children at a school in Thessaloniki.
Notes to Editor
For further media information contact Lynne Russell, Marketing Manager, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk T: 0131 474 0000, M: 07711 011239 and Jon Perkins, Press and PR Officer, E: jperkins@qmu.ac.uk T: 0131 474 0000.
