inter-religious
holocaust memorial day
Photo: Holocaust Memorial in Berlin
Resources for 2010
27 January 2010These have been produced by the Council for Christians and Jews 
in consultation with CTBI.
HMD Pack for Churches 2010 (PDF, 3.3MB)
HMD Powerpoint Presentation 2010 (PPT, 4MB)
HMD Guidelines for Preachers (PDF, 37k)
HMD Service Extra (PDF, 9k)
Background to Holocaust Memorial Day
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 (27th 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.
