Events and Activities Supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation
International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, 2025, commemorates the genocide of six million Jews, one-third of the world’s Jewish population, and millions of other victims. The day marks the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz II-Birkenau where one million Jews were murdered. We honor the memory of the victims: innocent men, women, and children executed solely because of their Jewish faith. Eighty years after WWII, antisemitism remains endemic in society and on the rise.
The Blavatnik Family Foundation is committed to ensuring that the lessons and horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten and that such evil inhumanity never occurs again.
Activities the foundation is supporting include:
Throughout January
Holocaust Memorial Day Events
Locations across the United Kingdom
Each year tens of thousands of activities take place across the UK to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, supported by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. From workshops and activity days through to lectures and services, visit this interactive map to explore events across the country.
Before Holocaust Memorial Day
17th January
Blavatnik Archive: Auschwitz 126 Photos. 80 Years Later
Altneu Synagogue, New York City, USA
To mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Blavatnik Archive has unveiled a poignant exhibit at the Altneu Synagogue, featuring powerful photographs taken after the camp’s liberation, offering a unique perspective on the aftermath of the Holocaust.
At the private opening for synagogue members, Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Danny Danon, gave the opening remarks. Brandon Schechter, the Archive’s resident historian, introduced the exhibit and illuminated the intent and stories behind these compelling images.
21st January
The Holocaust and the Nuremberg Trials – My IWM: Philippe Sands
Imperial War Museum, London, UK
My IWM offers the opportunity to join Philippe Sands KC and IWM’s Head of Public History, James Bulgin, for a tour of IWM’s award-winning Holocaust Galleries. Philippe will offer a personal, and insightful, look at the collection and the stories they tell, and look into the Nuremberg Trials that followed Nazi Germany’s defeat. Following the tour, there will be a wider discussion and Q&A event with both Phillipe and James. Find out more.
On Holocaust Memorial Day
27th January
80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz
Auschwitz, Poland
Peter Thoren, Executive Vice President and Head of Family Office of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, will attend this solemn event along with Holocaust survivors, approximately 40 heads of state, and numerous other luminaries, marking eight decades since the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz.
Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum for more information.
Anne Frank: The Exhibition
Center for Jewish History, New York City, USA
Opening on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, this immersive exhibition features a full-scale recreation of the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and seven others hid during World War II. Presented by the Anne Frank House, it offers visitors a profound insight into Anne’s life and legacy, showcasing over 100 original artifacts, including some never-before-exhibited items. The exhibition runs until 30th April 2025. For tickets and more information, visit the official website.
Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony
United Kingdom
The UK Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) Ceremony serves as the focal point for HMD in the UK, bringing together civic, faith, and political leaders alongside survivors of the Holocaust and more recent genocides. This year holds particular significance as it marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia. The ceremony will reflect on these milestones, honoring the memories of those who suffered and reinforcing the commitment to learning from the past to build a better future. For more details, visit the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website.
“The Last Musician of Auschwitz”
21:00 GMT, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, United Kingdom
The BBC will mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 27 January with a wide range of programming. This includes the release of “The Last Musician of Auschwitz,” with Foundation Co-Chair Emily Blavatnik and Access Entertainment President Danny Cohen as executive producers. Watch on demand here.
After Holocaust Memorial Day
29th January:
Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3 “Kaddish,” performed by Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA
In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, under the baton of James Conlon, will perform Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3, “Kaddish.” This profound work features the text “A Dialogue with God” by the late Samuel Pisar, himself a survivor of Auschwitz. The performance will be narrated by Pisar’s wife, Judith Pisar, and daughter, Leah Pisar, with soprano Diana Newman, the Bard Festival Chorale, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus also contributing to this moving tribute. For more information and tickets, visit the Carnegie Hall event page.
