The ceremony at Middlesex University was held two days before the nationwide memorial day on 27th January

A woman speaking at a lectern with the backs of the heads of people listening — Emily Cass presenting The Story of Sala Slater, a tale of how her mother survived the Holocaust as a Jewish refugee – (Credit – Barnet Council)

Communities in Barnet came together at Middlesex University yesterday for the borough’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration.

The annual event, organised by Barnet Council, is held in remembrance of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust and genocides throughout the world.

It took place two days before the official nationwide Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday, 27th January.

Speakers at the commemoration included Emily Cass, who presented The Story of Sala Slater, a tale of how her mother survived the Holocaust as a Jewish refugee.

When the Germans attacked Belgium in May 1940, Sara fled to the south of France with Paul Zlotogorski, who she married in December that year. The pair fled across the Alps to Switzerland in August 1942 after French police began to arrest Jews.

In early 1945, impatient to be with Paul – who had been wounded whilst fighting with the British army in Germany – Sara smuggled herself out of Switzerland. She finally reached Britain in the summer of 1945 where, reunited with Paul, she made a new life in London.

Also speaking at the ceremony, mayor of Barnet, Cllr Danny Rich, said: “I approach Holocaust Memorial Day with a mixture of emotions including, but not restricted to, humility and hope.

“If the Holocaust, perpetrated by the Nazis against primarily the Jews, is the defining episode of the twentieth century, it is also true that the capacity of human beings to inflict cruelty on their neighbours and others remains a stain on civilisation in the following years, not least in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

“The aspiration of a better world – rid of the scourge of hatred – begins with persons of good will affirming clearly that racism has no place in our society. That clarity of purpose can then be translated into bringing Barnet together, providing appropriate educational opportunities, and enabling future generations to mould a world characterised by moral clarity and human decency.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.