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inter faith

holocaust memorial day 

Photo: Holocaust Memorial in Berlin

One of the most painful realities for European Christians to deal with is the past complicity of many Christians and churches in the Nazis' attempt to exterminate the Jewish people. A long history of Christian anti-Semitism that fed into numerous persecutions of the Jews, up to and including the Holocaust/Shoah, has also been acknowledged.

Christians and churches can engage with the issues relating to the Nazis Holocaust, and relations with the Jewish community, in numerous ways.

The Roman Catholic Church addresses Jewish-Christian Relations through the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The Commission of the Holy See for Religious Relations with the Jews  has important documents that are invaluable resources.

The Council of Christians and Jews, the Centre for Jewish-Christian Relations in Cambridge  and the Beth Shalom Centre  all provide resources and opportunities for further study and reflection.

In 2002, the United Kingdom Government set up Holocaust Memorial Day (27^th January each year) which remembers the suffering of the Holocaust/Shoah and other Holocausts (for example in Cambodia and Rwanda). The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust  provides resources for the day itself, as well as general material. They also offer a regular email-based newsletter.

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2008 is "Imagine... remember, reflect, react" which culminates in a call to "remember the past, reflect on the present and react to create a better future". The themed paper can be downloaded from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust  website.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has produced a short film, which it says is suitable for showing at community events and in schools and colleges:
HMDT film 2008 on YouTube 

Council of Christians and Jews in consultation with CTBI have produced resources  (Word format) for churches who wish to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. These provide notes on particular Biblical texts for use in Bible studies or to assist preachers, as well as some liturgical resources.