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Holocaust Memorial Day 2025
On Monday 27 January 2025, the Northern Ireland War Memorial held a special event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2025.
Holocaust Memorial Day takes place internationally on the 27 January every year to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of others killed under Nazi persecution and those murdered in more recent genocides.
This year, Holocaust Memorial Day also marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most infamous Nazi death camp.
Numerous families took refuge or shelter in Northern Ireland; the Bloch family who escaped Poland just before Germany's invasion, Fred and Gertrude Kessler who came from Vienna to shelter in the Northern Irish countryside or the many Jewish children who lived at the Millisle Kindertransport farm set up by the local Jewish community.
One of those of survived their time in Auschwitz was Helen Lewis MBE.
Helen was a professional dancer and choreographer, living in Prague before she was deported to Terezin in 1942. Helen survived Terezin, Auschwitz, Stutthof and a death march, before returning to Prague at the end of the war and emigrating to Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1947. Helen later resumed her career as a professional dancer and choreographer and is remembered by a blue plaque on the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast.
We were privileged to be joined by Helen's grandson, Dan Lewis for a virtual presentation on his grandmother's life and her experience of the Holocaust before emigrating to Belfast. We're grateful to the Northern Holocaust Education Group for facilitating Dan's talk.
You can now watch Dan's lecture on our YouTube channel:
Following the talk, a candle was lit to commemorate Helen's life and all those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. The candle was commissioned by the NIWM from Belfast-based artist Leanne McClean as part of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust's '80 Candles for 80 Years' project. Following the candle lighting, a minute's silence was observed.
Artworks by local artist Leslie Nicholl from the NIWM's collection were on display in the museum gallery and Belfast Central Library throughout January. These paintings, entitled, 'My Name Is Might Have Been', were also inspired by Helen's story.
