05 February 2025| Moray, Scotland [tedNEWS with Scottish Mission News]
On the 26th of January 2025, Gordonstoun School hosted a poignant Holocaust Memorial Day service, drawing a diverse gathering to reflect on the horrors of genocide while celebrating the enduring legacy of its founder, Kurt Hahn. In a powerful tribute, the Association of Jewish Refugees unveiled a commemorative plaque in his honour, marking the deep connections between the school’s values and the fight against prejudice. The ceremony, held in the shadow of history, honoured the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau with the solemn lighting of six memorial candles. Among those paying their respects were Princess Royal and Scotland’s First Minister, whose reflections on Hahn’s courage and profound impact added depth to the occasion. The service also saw the involvement of a local Seventh-day Adventist Church minister, symbolising the Church’s steadfast commitment to solidarity, reconciliation, and the ongoing fight against hatred. The atmosphere was one of unity, remembrance, and hope, as the community came together to honour the past and renew their resolve for a future built on understanding and peace.
Hahn fled to the UK in 1933 after being briefly imprisoned due to his Jewish heritage and his vocal criticism of the Nazi regime. In 1934, he established the Elgin school, with the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, among its first students. Three of Prince Philip’s children, including King Charles, later attended the school. Hahn’s legacy of courage, service, and compassion was recognised through the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR). In a letter read during the ceremony, Princess Royal described the plaque as a “permanent monument” to Kurt Hahn’s bravery and accomplishments, serving as both a reminder of his journey to Gordonstoun and a “warning of what happens when a society succumbs to the dangers of indifference in the face of extremism and racial hatred.” She also reflected on her late father, the Duke of Edinburgh, who thrived under Hahn’s mentorship and would have deeply approved of the tribute.
Reflecting on Hahn’s legacy, Gordonstoun Principal Peter Green paid tribute to him for his immense courage in publicly standing up to the Nazi Party in the face of extreme adversity and expressed deep gratitude for his vision of establishing a school built on an educational philosophy of service and compassion.
The event also marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, offering a moment for deep reflection on the atrocities of the Holocaust. Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, expressed in a letter, “The atrocities inflicted upon the Jewish people during the Holocaust remain one of the darkest periods of human history, but it is the bravery of individuals such as Mr Hahn that can inspire the rest of us to stand in solidarity against forces which seek to target the most vulnerable members of our society.”
The ceremony featured the lighting of six candles, each symbolising one million of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Among the guests and contributors to the event was Wilfred Masih, a Seventh-day Adventist minister serving Inverness, Elgin, and the Highlands. Pastor Masih assisted in organising the service and took part in the lighting of the fourth candle, which also symbolised those who perished because of their beliefs.
The original version of this story was published on the Scottish Mission news website.
[Photos: Courtesy of the Scottish Mission].
Featured image: Pastor Wilfred Masih participating in the lighting of the fourth candle, which symbolising those who perished because of their beliefs.
