Bury South MP Ivan Lewis kicked-off Manchester’s HMD programme by starting a football friendly on Sunday between Manchester Maccabi and FC United, the club founded by fans opposed to the Glazers’ takeover of Manchester United. The 300 crowd at the Maccabi sports centre also heard a talk from survivor Jack Aizenberg.

Maccabi’s project manager Suzy Gellman said the match was FC United’s idea. “It showed communities standing up to hatred and using sports to get that message across.”

On Tuesday, the giant electronic billboard at Piccadilly Station displayed excerpts from poems based on Holocaust recollections. Artist Lois Blackburn and poet Philip Davenport created the poems with residents of the Morris Feinmann Home in Didsbury, many of whom are survivors.

Manchester City Council and the UK Jewish Film Festival hosted a short-film event for pupils of 10 local schools. Oldham Mayor Councillor Shoab Akhtar and a local police superintendent addressed a commemoration also involving Higher Crumpsall rabbi Arnold Saunders. Rabbi Saunders additionally spoke at Blackburn’s memorial service, along with Muslim, Hindu and Christian representatives.

The Imperial War Museum North has been running a week of special events for all ages, including talks, storytelling and musical performances. Lecturers included Bristol University’s Dr Tim Cole, whose topic was Jewish children affected by the Shoah.