Tuesday 06 April 2021
Holocaust Memorial Day is usually observed in Guernsey on 27 January each year.
The day remembers the victims of the Holocaust and other acts of genocide both in Guernsey and around the world and serves to ensure that its lessons are learned by future generations.
This date, which is the anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp at Auschwitz Birkenau in 1945, is observed as Holocaust Memorial Day in many countries around the world; however, some countries choose other days for particular local reasons.
The observance of Holocaust Memorial Day was not possible in Guernsey in January 2021, because the Island moved very quickly into lockdown the previous weekend. It was agreed, with regret, that it would not be appropriate for even a very small observance at the memorials on White Rock.
The State of Israel observes its equivalent of Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom HaShoah) on the 27th day of Nisan in the Jewish calendar. This date varies from year to year in the Gregorian (Western) calendar, but in 2021 this date is Thursday 8 April.
At the request of the local Jewish community in Guernsey, Holocaust Memorial Day will be observed, exceptionally, on the day when Israel remembers the Holocaust.
There will be a short commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day at the White Rock memorial next to North Beach at 12.00 noon on Thursday 8 April 2021.
This gathering is open to all who wish to attend. At the request of the Jewish community, the commemoration will be led by the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Reverend Tim Barker.
There will be no additional events this year, such as a gathering in the Town Church, as the commemoration coincides with school holidays and has been arranged at relatively short notice.
The commemoration is open to all islanders regardless of religious affiliation.
