Img. ID: 421854
Who is Commemorated?
1,200 Jews of Drama and Jews from other towns in Macedonia and Thrace who were deported and murdered.
Description
The abstract black stone monument sits on a large base that sprawls outward in the shape of Jewish star. The monument seems like a stele about to take wing.
A large, curved stone on top spreads to each side like arms or wings, humanizing the geometry of the form. The monument looks like a figure with arms outstretched. A Christian might see a Tau-cross.
On the curved top stone is inscribed in Hebrew, Greek, and English the admonition to "Remember and Do Not Forget" (from Deuteronomy 25: 17-19). Beneath this is a larger vertical stone, the top front of which is inscribed with a Magen David encircled by a wreath. Below this is a commemorative inscription in Greek that provides more information about the deportation and murder of the 1200 Jews of Drama.
On the rear of the monument is inscribed a map of the region showing the locations of the communities where Jews were deported. Below this is a short dedicatory inscription in Greek.
On one side are listed the towns from which Jews were deported and the number of victims.
A similar monument in nearby Kavala - from where many more Jews were deported - is not nearly so well sited and does not contain the dramatic upper stone.
Inscriptions
The quotation from Deuteronomy 25: 17-19 — "Remember and Do Not Forget"— is inscribed on the front of the top stone in Hebrew, Greek, and English:
זכור, אל תשכח (דברים 25. 17 - 19)
ΘΥΜΗΣΟΥ ΚАΙ ΜΗ ΞΕΧΝАΣ (ΔΕΥΤ. ΚΕΦ. 25. 17.-19)
Remember and Do Not Forget
On front of monument lower stone:
Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΔPAMAΣ ΔEN
ΞEXNA TOYΣ 1200 EBPAIOYΣ
ΣYMΠOΛITEΣ ΠOY ΣYNEΛHΦΘΗΣΑΝ
ΣTIΣ 3 MAPTIOY 1943
KAI EΞΟΝΤΩΘHKAN AΠO TOYΣ
ΓEPMANOBOYΛΓAΡΟYΣ KATAKTHTEΣ
ΔΡΑΜΑ 9-5-99
ΔΗΜΟΣ ΔΡΑΜΑΣ
ΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΟ ΙΣΡΑΗΛΙΤΙΚΟ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟ
Translation: The Drama Municipality / Does not forget 1200 Jewish / Citizens that were arrested / On 3 March 1943 / And were exterminated by the / German-Bulgarian occupiers / Drama 9 May 1999 / Drama Municipality / The Central Board of Jewish Communities
On rear of monument beneath map:
ΕBPAIKEΣ
KOINOTHTEΣ ΠOY AΦANIΣTHKAN
AΠO TOYΣ ΓEPMANOBOYΛΓΑΡΟΥΣ
KATAKTHTEΣ THN ANOIΞH TOY 1943
Translation: Jewish / Communities that were exterminated / By the German-Bulgarian / Occupiers in the spring of 1943
On the side of the monument to left of front:
ΦΡΟΝТΔΑ ΚАΙ ΕΠΙΜΕΛΕΙА
АΣΡАΗΛΗТΙΚΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΟТΗТАΣ
ΚАΒАΛАΣ
Translation: Maintained / by the Jewish community / of Kavala
On the side of the monument to right of front:
АΠΩΛΕΙΕΣ
ΔΡАΜА 1200
ΔΙΔΥΜΟΤΕΙΧΟ 867
ΚАΒАΛА 2058
ΚΟΜΟΤΗΝΗ 791
ΞΛΝΘΗ 544
ΟΡΕΣΤΙΑΔΑ 194
ΣΕΡΡΕΣ 597
ΣΟΥΦΛΙ 32
ΜΕΛΕΤΗ – ΕΠΙΒΛΕΨΗ
ΒΙΚΤΩΡ ΒΕΝΟΥΖΙΟΥ
ΜΑΡΙΑ ΖΟΥΡΝΑ
ΜΗΧΑΝΙΚΟΙ
Translation: Losses / Drama 1200 / Didymoticho 867 / Kavala 2058 / Komotini 791 / Xanthi 544 / Orestiada 194 / Serres 597 / Soufli 32 / Study - supervision Victor Venouziou Maria Zourna Engineers
Commissioned by
Municipality of Drama
The Central Board of Jewish Communities (KIS)