Holocaust education workshops and photography exhibition at FRS

Finchley Reform Synagogue (FRS) is hosting a series of Holocaust education workshops that will see 1,000 local secondary school pupils and 200 teacher-training students from Middlesex University taking part.

Participants will hear from a Holocaust survivor, have the chance to ask them questions and then engage in a workshop about acting on the lessons they have learnt.

FRS has been running these events to foster understanding and remembrance among younger generations in the area for more than two decades.

This year, in addition, there is an exhibition running concurrently at the synagogue titled Portraits for Prosperity, displaying a selection of unique photographs of British Holocaust survivors.

The photos are taking from the book of the same name, which has been released to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The project started in late 2007 when, in close liaison with London’s Holocaust survivor community, photographer Matt Writtle, curator Jan Marsh and project manager Jacki Reason produced 30 portraits, which were exhibited at London’s City Hall, UK. Following the exhibition’s successful reception, the project was expanded to include survivors living across Great Britain, with a total of 101 portraits being exhibited at a range of locations nationwide.

The exhibition launched last Shabbat and will be on display in the FRS Mishkan (smaller prayer space) within the synagogue’s normal opening hours until Saturday 15 February.