Karen Pollock CBE is a prominent British activist and the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET), a role she has held since 2000. Born in May 1974, she studied French and Italian at the University of Leeds, where she was actively involved with the National Union of Students and the Union of Jewish Students. Her commitment to combating prejudice and antisemitism was evident early on and became the foundation of her career.
Before joining the Holocaust Educational Trust, Pollock served as the Director of the All-Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism. In 1998, she began her journey with HET as the Director of Communications, and two years later, she became Chief Executive. Under her leadership, the Trust has made remarkable strides, including the establishment of the acclaimed “Lessons from Auschwitz” programme. This initiative has enabled thousands of students to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau and gain a profound understanding of the Holocaust, ensuring its lessons are not forgotten.
Pollock has also spearheaded efforts to honour British individuals who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. She was a founding trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and is actively involved in organisations such as Searchlight and the London Jewish Forum. Moreover, she has represented the Board of Deputies of British Jews at significant events, including the United Nations World Conference against Racism.
Her contributions to Holocaust education and remembrance have earned her several prestigious honours. In 2012, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education, and in 2020, she was elevated to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her continued dedication to preserving the memory of the Holocaust. Beyond her work with HET, Pollock serves as a Vice President of the Jewish Leadership Council and advises the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation.
Karen Pollock’s unwavering dedication ensures that the lessons of the Holocaust remain relevant for future generations. Her efforts to educate and inspire serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of combating hatred and prejudice in all its forms.
At the Holocaust Educational Trust, we work to ensure that people from every background are educated about the Holocaust and the important lessons to be learned for today.
The Holocaust was the murder of approximately six million Jewish men, women and children by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during the Second World War. The Holocaust is often referred to as the Shoah, the Hebrew word for catastrophe.
Antisemitism has existed for centuries and can be traced as far back as Biblical times. When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, they began transforming their antisemitic ideology into dangerous antisemitism legislation. Jews were stripped of their jobs, their possessions, and their citizenship; simply for being Jewish. They were soon forced from their homes and placed in ghettos across Europe. Millions of Jewish people were murdered in purpose built death camps, forests and ravines. They were exposed to horrendous living conditions in concentration camps, where many died as a result of starvation and disease.
When we talk about the mass murder of European Jews, we are not only referring to the loss of millions of lives, but also the disappearance of cultures, communities, languages and traditions. The Holocaust was the most radical escalation and violent expression of antisemitism – hatred or prejudice against Jewish people.
Whilst the term Holocaust refers specifically to the genocide of European Jewry, other groups deemed racially and socially inferior experienced horrific and violent persecution by the Nazis, including Roma and Sinti people, Soviet civilians and prisoners of war, Polish citizens, Black people, people with disabilities, political opponents of the Nazis, Gay men, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, it is important to note that only Jews were targeted for complete eradication on a continental scale. It is important that we recognise the suffering of each victim group in their own terms to properly preserve their memory and understand their history.
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