“Never Again” must be more than words

Holocaust Memorial Day 2026

To commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 Alsop students have laid a wreath at to remember the victims of genocide as part of the Holocaust at the memorial stone in St John’s Gardens. They then attended the Civic Service at Liverpool Town Hall and spoke eloquently during their presentation to civic and faith leaders.

On 26h January, students from Alsop High School attended Liverpool Town Hall, for the Civic Service for Holocaust Memorial Day. During the service they delivered a presentation about this year’s theme “Bridging Generations.” Students from Archbishop Blanch Church of England High School also reflected on the theme, and President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Phil Rosenberg, was the service’s guest speaker.

This year marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenhau. Sixth Form students from Alsop delivered a presentation about a story of friendship, that developed between two fourteen year old Jewish boys who survived the Death March.  They spoke about the late Zigi Shipper BEM and the late Manfred Goldberg BEM and their struggle for survival during Nazi persecution.

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Barbara Murray spoke about why we all needed to work together for a better future and challenge racism and hatred. Rabbi Natan Fagleman, Allerton Hebrew Congregation led prayers and lit a candle to remember those who perished during the Holocaust.

The service also included an Act of Commitment from the leaders of Merseyside faith communities. Faith leaders made a solemn pledge to challenge and eradicate all forms of racism and hatred from society.

During their presentation Alsop sixth form students also spoke about their recent visit to Auschwitz with Holocaust Educational Trust. They concluded their presentation with the words of Elie Wiesel. It powerfully evokes the shock and devastation brought by the sudden loss of everything Wiesel held dear on his arrival in Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Barbara Murray said:

“This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day Trust theme is ‘Bridging Generations’ – a reminder that the responsibility of remembrance doesn’t end with the survivors and that it lives on through their children, their grandchildren and through all of us.

“This theme encourages us all to engage actively with the past – to listen, to learn and to carry those lessons forward. By doing so, we build a bridge between memory and action, between history and hope for the future.

“We hope that Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 can be an opportunity for people to come together, learn both from and about the past, and take actions to make a better future for all.”

Guest speaker, Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said:

“Holocaust Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of where hatred can lead when it goes unchallenged.

“As we remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and all victims of genocide, we must also confront the realities of rising antisemitism and hatred today.

"Never Again must be more than words, it must be a commitment we uphold every day.”