Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 - Reflection Across Derbyshire

Holocaust Memorial Day is a moment that asks us to pause - not only to remember what was lost, but to consider what remembrance demands of us today. In 2026, the Derbyshire Jewish Community marked the day through three events across the county, each different in setting and audience, yet united by a shared commitment to memory, dignity, and responsibility.

Our first event took place at the Multi-Faith Centre in Derby. Bringing together people from a range of faiths and backgrounds, the gathering reflected one of the most important lessons of Holocaust Memorial Day - that remembrance is strongest when it is shared. The 80 Candles Quilt was on display, and we listened to stories about individuals represented on the quilt. Hearing these personal stories, while standing together in a multi-faith space, underscored that the Holocaust is not an abstract tragedy but a collection of individual lives, each with their own name, history, and dignity. We are particularly grateful to Eve Sacker, who was the main organiser of this event and whose work made the gathering possible.

The second event was held at County Hall, organised by local councillors and Derbyshire County Council staff. A short ceremony was carried out, offering a moment of formal reflection within the heart of local government. It was particularly meaningful to see public institutions take an active role in marking the day. Holocaust Memorial Day is not only about personal memory or family history - it is also about civic responsibility. We would like to thank Derbyshire County Council for hosting us and for supporting this important act of remembrance.

Our final event took place at Chesterfield Library, where we were honoured to hear from my grandfather, Peter Summerfield BEM, who joined us via Zoom. Hearing directly from a survivor - even remotely - brings an immediacy that no textbook or exhibition can replicate. As the generation of survivors grows smaller each year, these moments become ever more precious. We are grateful to Chesterfield Borough Council for hosting this event and for providing a public space where learning, reflection, and remembrance could take place.

The 80 Candles Quilt joined us at all three events, providing a powerful and consistent focal point throughout the day. We were also proud to mark the launch of the book that accompanies the quilt, adding further depth and context to the stories it represents. The presence of the quilt across each venue reinforced the idea that remembrance can be both collective and tangible - something seen, shared, and reflected upon together.

Alongside our own events, we also noted the many Facebook posts shared to mark Holocaust Memorial Day by MPs, councils, councillors, and other organisations across Derbyshire and beyond. We shared a number of these posts on our Facebook page as a way of acknowledging the breadth of public reflection taking place. Visible, thoughtful recognition in the public sphere matters, and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to mark the day and help keep remembrance present in our wider civic life.

Taken together, these three events captured something essential about Holocaust Memorial Day in Derbyshire this year. Remembrance happened in a multi-faith space, in the heart of local government, and in a public library - places of dialogue, learning, and civic life. That matters. Memory does not belong only in museums or memorials; it belongs in the everyday spaces where communities meet and decisions are made.

As we look ahead, the responsibility to remember does not end with a single day in January. Holocaust Memorial Day asks us to reflect on where hatred begins, how it is normalised, and what each of us can do - in our communities, institutions, and daily lives - to challenge it. In Derbyshire this year, remembrance was shared, thoughtful, and rooted in both history and present-day responsibility. That is something we should continue to build on, long after the candles are extinguished.