The remains of six people murdered in the Holocaust have been laid to rest in Hertfordshire.

The ashes of five adults and a child were buried in a single, small coffin in a powerful ceremony yesterday.

The remains, which come from the Auschwitz concentration camp, were given to the United Synagogue by the Imperial War Museum after they were sent them with other items in 1997 by a private donor, thought to be a survivor.

During a review of items relating to the Holocaust, the museum concluded that it was no longer appropriate to keep them.

After approaching the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and the Office of the Chief Rabbi for advice, it gave the remains to the United Synagogue.

After the service was announced last week, hundreds of people filled three prayer halls at Bushey New Cemetery, with many gathered outside listening to the service on loudspeakers. It was also streamed live on YouTube.

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Introducing the service, Chairman of the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue Rabbi Nicky Liss explained that 77 years ago at that very moment, the Nazis decided to exterminate all Jews living in Europe at the Wannsee Conference.

Very few received a Jewish burial, and the remains of many were lost.

Rabbi Liss compared the burial of the ashes of the six victims to Moses and the Jews carrying Joseph's bones out of Egypt.

He said: "Today it is our overwhelming responsibility and duty to give six of those victims - although we will never know who they were - the privilege of a Jewish burial."

Rabbi Liss thanked Imperial War Museums for ensuring the six kedoshim - holy souls - could be buried and afforded the respect and dignity they were denied in both life and death.

After readings, recitations and a special elegy, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis addressed the six departed in a eulogy.

He said: "We don't know who you are. We don't know your names. We do not know if you were male or female. We do not know which countries you came from. We do not what you did for a living. We don't have any details of your families.

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Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

"But there is one thing that we do know. You were Jewish. And it is for that single reason that you were brutally murdered."

Still addressing the departed, the Chief Rabbi added that surrounding their coffin were Holocaust survivors, who had gone on to tell the stories of the suffering.

He outlined how the world had changed since their deaths, with the creation of the state of Israel, whose ambassador was at the ceremony.

He quoted the Prophet Isaiah, who brought the word of God to Jewish martyrs, telling them they would have an everlasting name.

He added: "We don't know your names. But God knows your names and you have an everlasting name and an everlasting presence within the home of the almighty in the celestial spheres above."

After the service, around 50 Holocaust survivors accompanied the coffin to where crowds of up to 1,000 gathered around the grave.

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The survivors and other attendees were invited to throw earth onto the coffin. This was followed by another recitation and the Kaddish by the Chief Rabbi.

It was the first time the remains of people murdered in the Holocaust had been buried in the UK.

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Among those attending the funeral were the Queen's representative, Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire Robert Voss, Israeli ambassador Mark Regev, Secretary of State for Local Government James Brokenshire, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Lord Eric Pickles and Hendon MP Matthew Offord.

To watch the service, click here.

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