To honour the memory of all those who suffered and perished under Nazi persecution during World War II, the Rev Cedric Blakey, Convener of the Interfaith Relations Committee will today (27 January) attend Interfaith Scotland’s national Holocaust Memorial Day event at the Scottish Parliament on behalf of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

This prayer was written specially for Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 which is the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. It was written by Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, President of the Council of Christians and Jews, and Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism.

E’l De’ot, God who knows,
God who says Immo anochi betzarah, ‘I am with you in your troubles’,
Be with us, instruct us, guide us.
Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart to care.
Discomfort our conscience, dispel indifference.
Demand of us the determination to name and call out hatred, in ourselves, our society, the world, anywhere, everywhere.
Prevent us from despairing of the power of goodness, compassion, courage and faith.
Imbue us with loving kindness to cure the wounds which can be healed and tend with gentle understanding those beyond our repair.
Open our hearts to the intricate, destructible wonder and fragile privilege of life.