A SCOTS missionary who lost her life trying to help Jewish children during the Holocaust is to be remembered with a new plaque in Edinburgh.
Angus Robertson, the SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central, started a campaign for the installation of a Stolpersteine – or “stumbling stone” – memorial to Jane Haining.
The City of Edinburgh Council has now agreed to pay for the installation of the plaque, which will be the first memorial to Haining in the capital.
In 1932, Haining left Edinburgh for Budapest to take up residence at girls’ home in Budapest, Hungary.
Following the onset of World War 2 she was offered many chances to return home to the relative safety of Scotland.
However, Haining chose to stay and was eventually arrested by the Gestapo.
She died in Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944 and was eventually recognised as ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ at the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem.
She is the only Scot to be bestowed with the honour.
A motion to mark Haining’s life with a Stolpersteine – a small brass plaque set into the pavement which details the name and life details of people murdered by the Nazis – was passed by councillors with acclaim on Thursday.
In Europe, there are more than 75,000 brass plate memorials outside homes or places associated with victims of the Holocaust.
Robertson said: ‘Jane Haining is Scotland's most prominent Holocaust victim and is Righteous Amongst the Nations at Yad Vashem.
A 'Stolperstein' to her memory would be fitting, perhaps outside Edinburgh's St Stephen's Church, where her mission to help Jewish children was dedicated.
As well as being a proper commemoration, it will also serve as a warning to never forget the lessons of history.’ The motion was brought to the council by Professor Joe Goldblatt, Chair of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, alongside SNP councillor Vicky Nicholson.
Goldblatt said he hoped the stone would inspire feelings of pride in those who passed by.
"I hope that in the years to come when children and others pass the Stolperstein stone and plaque they will feel pride because of this daughter of Edinburgh whose courage and bravery saved so many Jewish lives,” he said.
“I hope that the Church of Scotland and Jewish community will work closely together to plan a meaningful and memorable unveiling of the stone."
