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Debt of gratitude

The JC Leaders, October 19th 2018

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October 19, 2018 10:55

This week, that remarkable body, the Holocaust Educational Trust, celebrated its 30th anniversary with its annual dinner. Over those thirty years, politicians of all mainstream parties have understood its importance and the combination of taxpayer and donor funding has enabled it to take more than 36,000 students and teachers to visit former concentration camps. Excellent as many books, lectures and documentaries are, none is as effective as seeing Auschwitz or one of the other sites with one’s own eyes. Yesterday saw HET’s 200th such visit. The brainchild of Lord Janner, it is — appallingly — more relevant now than at any previous point in its existence.

 

Holocaust denial is rife on social media. Labour is regarded by 86 per cent of the Jewish community — and 43 per cent of all voters — as having high levels of antisemitism among its members and elected representatives. Indeed, more than 85 per cent of British Jews regard the Labour leader personally as an antisemite. Antisemitic incidents are at near record levels; in this week’s paper, Marie Tierney describes the everyday antisemitism she encountered in schools — among teachers as much as pupils. HET’s work is vital and we should never take it for granted. Day in, day out, its staff work to educate children and adults about the consequences of hatred and ignorance. It may be rewarding, but it is also deeply draining. The entire community owes its team, under the leadership of Karen Pollock, a debt of gratitude.

October 19, 2018 10:55

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