The civic ceremony is just one of a number of events being held in Leeds to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (January 27), an international event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Chris Townsley will host the civic ceremony at 2pm on Sunday 30 January, at which Holocaust survivors will be present. Actors will recount the survivors' stories of their experiences of the Holocaust and how they rebuilt their lives. The moving story of Waldemar and Ibi Ginsburg will be recounted at the ceremony. The couple who, despite being incarcerated in Auschwitz and Dachau as well as being imprisoned in ghettos, went on to marry and find peace in West Yorkshire. Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember victims of genocide throughout the world, as well as victims of Nazi persecution. To recognise this, Vigil Jima of the Leeds Sudanese Communities Association will speak about the atrocities in Sudan, and John Chillag, a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau who lost 59 members of his family in the Holocaust, will speak about the multi-cultural aspects of the Holocaust and what lessons can be learned for the future. Pupils from Intake High School will read poems by Holocaust survivor Batsheva Dagan. The Civic commemorative event is free but tickets are limited. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Lord Mayor's office on 0113 2474194. Other events to mark the occasion include a free exhibition about the experiences of Holocaust survivors based in this area, which will be held at Leeds Civic Hall on 24 - 28 and 30 January. The exhibition, put together by the Holocaust Survivors' Friendship Association (Yorkshire) and the University of Leeds, will display photographs and documents which detail the experiences and memories of the survivors. Visitors can see the exhibition between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday and Sunday 1.30pm and 3.30pm. A commemorative concert by the London based Andrusier Ensemble is being held at the Leeds College of Music on Sunday 30 January to further mark Holocaust Memorial Day. This free concert includes three pieces of music which were composed in the Theresienstadt concentration camp at Terezin in the Czech Republic. The Andrusier Ensemble has become renowned for its innovative and thought-provoking programmes. Tickets are available by calling 0113 247 5948. | 
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