Edinburgh Unveils First Brass Stolperstein for Holocaust Victim

A memorial plaque commemorating Jane Haining, a Scottish Holocaust victim, will be unveiled on October 30, 2023, at St Stephen’s Church in Edinburgh. This marks Scotland’s first brass Stolperstein, or “stumbling block,” dedicated to individuals persecuted by the Nazis. The installation serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and is initiated by Angus Robertson, the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Central.

The Stolperstein initiative is part of a broader effort to honor those who suffered under Nazism. “We must never forget the victims of Nazism or the lesson from history that persecution and extremism can tragically return,” said Robertson, who also holds the position of Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs and Culture. Haining was murdered at Auschwitz after dedicating her life to protecting Jewish children during World War II.

Haining served as matron of the Scottish Mission School in Budapest throughout the 1930s and 1940s. After the war began, she provided support to Jewish women seeking safety and remained in Budapest to care for the children in her charge, many of whom were orphans. She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944 and deported to Auschwitz, where she was killed later that same year.

Commemoration and Legacy

Prior to her departure for Hungary in June 1932, a service of dedication was held at St Stephen’s Church in Stockbridge, where the Stolperstein is now installed. Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, praised Haining as an “inspirational woman.” She expressed hope that the plaque would keep Haining’s memory alive “for generations to come.”

Frew highlighted Haining’s unwavering commitment to her young charges, saying, “An inspirational woman of deep faith, she was fully aware of the extraordinary risks she was taking.” Despite the dangers, Haining famously stated, “If these children need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness?” This sentiment encapsulates her dedication to service and sacrifice.

The unveiling ceremony will include family members of Haining, representatives from the Hungarian and German consulates, and various ministers from the Church of Scotland and other faith communities. Edward Green, a senior member of the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation, remarked on the pride the Jewish community feels in honoring Haining. He noted that her efforts during the Nazi regime earned her recognition as Righteous Among The Nations at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel.

Green added, “We remember and honour her today and for future generations and are grateful to the Scottish government for its leadership in this.”

The installation of the Stolperstein not only commemorates Jane Haining but also serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering the past to prevent future atrocities.