"The theme is a particularly important one, as we need those who can to speak up for those who don't have a voice," said the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Rev Alan Taylor.

Addressing some 400 people at this year's ceremony at Leeds Town Hall on Sunday, Rev Taylor added: "When survivors share their stories, it enables us to remember those who didn't have a chance to speak and who lost their lives, whether in the Holocaust or in subsequent genocides.

"We need people to speak for the voiceless."

Referring to those who are faced with persecution and discrimination, he added: "We have the choice to say nothing or to speak up.

"But it is only by speaking up that we can make a difference and create change for the better."

MP Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, visited Auschwitz-Birkenau last year with a party of school pupils.

"It reminds us how important it is to learn the lessons from history and to speak out against hatred and racism wherever we see it," the Leeds West MP said.

Hatred does not come out of nowhere, she added, but ferments and builds up over time and it is everybody's duty to speak up and speak out against it.

"In Parliament I speak out when I see something is wrong and in our community my constituents speak up when they see something is wrong.

"It means not walking by on the other side as we see others suffer.

"In Leeds we are lucky to have a thriving Jewish community with a long and proud history that goes back to the early 19th century.

"I have seen how the Jewish community contributes to our civic life, yet the Jewish community here and across the world still faces threats.

"Many synagogues have their own security to protect those praying inside and Jewish schools also have rigorous security to protect those who are studying inside.

"In the first six months of last year there were 283 antisemitic incidents in the UK.

"To stop hatred and racism we must speak out when we hear it, even though we don't think it affects us.

"An injustice to one is an injustice to all and we must urge others to speak out, reminding them of the sinister consequences that could befall us if we choose not to act."

Two participants from Makor's November trip to Poland, when members of other faith groups joined the group, made a presentation.

Eileen Padmore said she had meant to keep a journal while she was in Poland, but couldn't find the words to write down.

"People told me it would be unbearably emotional, but my feelings seemed to be in cold storage - it was a bit like being under anaesthetic."

When reflecting on what they had seen, Israeli tour guide Mark Lazar had challenged those on the trip to start thinking in colour.

"The full colour palette of autumn was upon us when we visited the picture postcard woodland of Zbylitowska Gora, the site of the cold-blooded slaughter of some 10,000 living beings," recalled Eileen.

"There were no voices. The trees had seen it all and they drooped their branches in ageless misery.

"The colour was red, from oceans of blood that had not asked to be shed."

UHC member Phil Goldstone added: "What we witnessed at Auschwitz-Birkenau was something which was so harrowing I believe all our minds were numbed.

"We made good friendships on the trip; the chemistry between the different groups was excellent, and I hope it will have a lasting communal value and bring about a better understanding between our communities."

Others who spoke in a varied programme included activist Di Lofthouse, who was awarded an MBE for speaking out for disabled rights and recalled a recent visit to Auschwitz.

There was a moving speech by Tiffy Allen, co-ordinator of City of Sanctuary in Leeds, and a film showing a meeting between Ibi Ginsburg (who has since died) and Zenibu Hailu, two refugees from different backgrounds but with similar stories.

Holocaust survivor Iby Knill, who was deported as a political prisoner to Auschwitz-Birkenau, and has lived in England since 1947 said people have to honour humanity.

"It's very easy to get into the position of 'us and them', it's very easy to get people dehumanised and to make them feel less than they are, and therefore feel entitled to do whatever they like with them."

The 88-year-old, who has written about her experiences in the bestseller The Woman Without a Number, then gave a stark warning.

"If you have a situation where people are looking for scapegoats, and anybody from an ethnic minority can become a scapegoat, the immigrant, the Muslim, the Jew, then this sort of thing could spring up again. We have to watch out for that," she said.

And young people in particular should be aware of that, she cautioned, because this sort of differentiation starts in the playground with bullying.

"We have to make certain that the situation of 'us and them' does not develop, because under the skin we are all the same," she added.

She introduced a performance by a group of young people from ELFM, a radio station based in East Leeds. The presentation was devised after the youngsters had interviewed Mrs Knill.

Seven candles were lit after each speech and each speaker read one of the seven commitments issued by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

The seventh commitment was read by Rudi Leavor, chairman of Bradford Synagogue, who sang El Male Rachamim.