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Friday 28 January 2011

A Truly Moving Holocaust Memorial Evening at Craigroyston Community High School in Edinburgh, Scotland


Renaud Sarda, 
Edingburgh 

Together with many people and some MSPs from all over Scotland, I attended the event in Edinburgh Last night where the First Minister Alex Salmond delivered a moving speech and a tribute to the late Ernest Levy OBE (which I am privilege to have met on several occasions) to the Scottish National Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration at Craigroyston Community High School. 
The event featured pupils from the school, Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp from The Hague as well as Chantelle Watson and Justine Wilson from the Scottish Gypsy/travellers community and other guest speakers like Balie Maclaren of City of Edinburgh, Rabbi David Rose, Mike Wade from the Times, Jean Pierre Mugenga of the Scottish Refugee Council, Head Teacher, Margaret Russell of Craigroyston Community High School, and Councillor Deidre Brock who in her speech hoped that people would learn more about 'Untold Stories' and the genocide at the city of Edinburgh by visiting Council Libraries- yourlibrary.edingburgh.gov.uk

"We can create a safer, better and more tolerant future by listening to the real life stories from history. However, many of them are not easy to hear. They tell us of suffering, cruelty and pain, but we must not ignore them.Only by recognising the impacts of hatred and bigotry we learn the lessons of the past. 
But it is not enough to listen. We all have a role in challenging discrimination and prejudice, whether far abroad or close to home. After all, there are many stories that may never be heard.
I fully support the aim of Holocaust Memorial Day and I encourage you to appreciate the events and displays. However, I also ask you to remember and reflect, so we can all play our part in ensuring genocides are neither forgotten nor repeated."  
The Rt Hon CLLr George Grubb
Lord Provost of the city of Edinburgh

The General Secretary of The Edinburgh Interfaith Association Victor Spence said that they have co-designed and co-delivered this signifcant event with a group of over 60 pupils from across the year groups of Craigroyston Community High School and we have been working with the pupils twice since November. Many of these pupils have given readings and introductions. 
Our special guest the internationally known peace activist Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp has spoken to the whole school earlier today.
Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp

Craigroyston Community High School Choir
"Lean on Me"

                                                   First Prime Minister Alex Salmond

Apologies re videos they were taken from my IPhone



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