Between 1941 and 1945, six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The Nazis also murdered millions of others including Roma, Gypsy and Sinti people, people with disabilities, gay people, and many whose political views or religious beliefs threatened the Nazi regime.
On 27 January 2000, the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, 46 governments signed the Stockholm Declaration and founded Holocaust Memorial Day. This day is to remember the millions murdered during the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia (1975-1979), Rwanda (1994), Bosnia (1995) and later Darfur in 2003.
2025 is a particularly significant year as it marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. It is a time for reflection, education and awareness about the Holocaust and other genocides around the world and throughout history.
The Jewish Society have a number of events and activities taking place to mark and commemorate the day. All events are open to all staff and students.
- From 27 January – 2 February there will be a small exhibit in the Templeman Café where Holocaust survivor video testimonials will be displayed on a screen alongside information booklets provided by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. No booking required to attend.
- On Tuesday 28 January at 14:00 in Templeman Lecture Theatre, the Society will be hosting Sam Rogoff, who will tell the story of his mother, an Auschwitz survivor. No booking required to attend.
Additional resources
On YouTube, you can watch Medway campus Chaplain Lynne Martin’s seven-minute video marking Holocaust Memorial Day, in which she shines a light on the hope, bravery and heroism of an individual in the midst of horror and atrocity.
You can learn more about the Holocaust by using your Kent login to access an online library of films.
Fighting antisemitism and hate at Kent
Prejudice, discrimination and hatred based solely on difference is still pervasive in society today. This includes anti-Jewish attitudes, with reports of antisemitism increasing at Universities, and the investigation into antisemitism within the National Union of Student (NUS). Since the October 7 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel there has been a ICPG – Antisemitism at UK Universities since 7 October directed towards Jewish students and staff across UK university campuses.
Antisemitism is a form of racism and religious discrimination and we do not tolerate it at Kent. If you have been affected by it please do seek support via our Report and Support tool.
We have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and the Jewish Declaration of Antisemitism. This is an important statement of our solidarity with the Jewish community and our commitment to stamping out antisemitism at Kent.
There are other opportunities to commemorate throughout the year, including Antisemitism Awareness Week in March and Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day on 22 August.