A special concert documentary will take place at the University of Lincoln on Friday 27 January to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
The event is called Kindertransport, which means “children’s transport” in German and refers to the rescue of thousands of children from Nazi-occupied Europe before the outbreak of the Second World War.
The event is inspired by Dr Robin Young whose father came to the UK from Czechoslovakia as part of the Kindertransport.
There will be readings from contemporary sources, including personal letters and poetry, which describe the growing feeling of impending catastrophe across Europe at that time.
Interspersed between these readings will be music performed by Lincoln’s Klezmer band, Simcha. Klezmer is traditional Jewish folk music which is played across Eastern Europe and Russia.
The music will consist of tunes that would have been heard by Jewish communities at the time of the Kindertransport, as well as pieces specially composed by Simcha’s musical director, Jonathan Rider.
These original pieces are composed in the form of a doina, a traditional musical telling of the Jewish story.
In the second half of the concert, Simcha will play their usual lively dance tunes and poignant melodies which originate from everyday life in Jewish Europe.
The free concert will take place in the Jackson Lecture Theatre in the Minerva Building at 7.30pm on Friday 27 January. It is staged in conjunction with the University’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy and all are welcome. There will be a collection to raise money for Safe Passage, a charity that supports today’s refugee children.
Find out more about the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1089427075836588