British Jews Urged To Dress as Holocaust Victims

By JTA June 7, 2012

A Jewish British couple was asked to consider dressing up as Holocaust victims to commemorate World War II during the annual Wartime Weekend event.

Merton and Barbara Paul said that an organizer for the annual wartime weekend, which is run by the East Lancashire Railway, a preservation society, suggested that the couple wear a yellow Star of David and carry battered suitcases as part of the World War II commemoration, according to the Daily Telegraph.

“It was an innocent question but of course we wouldn’t want to do that. No Jewish person would,” Merton Paul told the Telegraph. “It’s very upsetting to see people in these uniforms. It is completely disrespectful to the six million Jews and other people who were killed at the hands of the Nazis.”

Some of the 10,000 participants wore uniforms of the SS, even though they were officially banned, and one participant even impersonated Gestapo founder Hermann Goering.

Swastikas were on the approved list of accoutrements, however.

The weekend also marked Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary on the throne. Britain’s Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks drafted a special prayer for the honor that was recited in synagogues across the country.

“Her spirit has helped make Britain the tolerant country it remains, and we are privileged to have been blessed by all she does and is,” said the prayer penned by Sacks.

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