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Obj. ID: 44043
Memorials
  Holocaust Memorial at Boca Raton Synagogue in Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2010

© Samuel D. Gruber, Photographer: Gruber, Samuel D., April 2022

Who is Commemorated?

Holocaust victims and survivors' family members of donors and all 6,000,000 victims of the Holocaust.

Description

The monument is located in front of the synagogue and is entered to the left off the main path from the parking area to the synagogue entrance. It is surrounded by a hedge, but the tops of the “columns” are visible over the hedge.

The expansive memorial includes two large inscribed matzevah/stele-type stones on high bases which frame an entrance into a paved memorial space. These denote the sponsor and lead donors for the project. The names of other donors are inscribed on the rear. There is a stone bench in the center of the space. The perimeter is defined by a low wall that carries six tall pillars inscribed with names. The lists of names on the first four pillars are under the heading of “Holocaust Martyrs.” The names on the last two pillars are under the heading “Deceased Survivors.” According to the inscriptions at the entrance, each pillar and each base were sponsored by an individual or family.

The back of each pillar is curved and from the rear looks like a column upon which is inscribed historical information, maps, and the exhortation, “Zachor, in sacred memory of the 6,000,000 who perished during the Holocaust.” The text and maps on this side are best viewed by walking behind the tall stone pillars between the stones and the hedge and viewing the pillars close-up, Most of the inscriptions, however, are placed high enough and the font is large enough to be read from outside the enclosure, too.

Atop each of the six pillars, set like a crown, is a metal sculpture of flames, symbolizing martyrdom. Encircling are the metal flames are flame-like Hebrew letters spelling out the word “Zachor” [Remember].

Inscriptions

On front left stele, verso

DR. ERIC AND SARAH GORDON
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

 Dedicated by
Eric and Sarah (Halpern) Gordon
In memory of beloved parents and survivors
Leon and Estera (Olshansky) Halpern
and

In tribute to all our family members
Who survived and perished in the Shoah

Memorial design and planning by Martin Judovits,
Holocaust Survivor

On the front right stele [n.b. use of upper and lower case is not consistent throughout inscription]

PILLARS 

Rabbi Yaacov Chaim Klein
In memory of his beloved parents Rabbi Jozsef and Toba Klein who died
al Kiddush Hashem, and in memory of his beloved wife Elka,
courageous survior and cherished Rebbetzim

 Martin & Helen Judovits, Rick & Joyce Israel, Robert & Shiftra Judovits
and Lawrence & Nancy Judovits
In memory of Helen’s and Martha’s parents and many of their close
relatives who perished in the Holocaust

Mark and Tilda Fisher
In loving memory of Tilda’s father Joseph Hudson z”l
Beloved father and grandfather to Jennifer, Kevin and Seth.
A true survivor in every sense of the word. Forever in Our Hearts.

 Barry and Dana Schechter and family
In loving memory of Charles (Yekuslel) Schechter z”l, beloved father, husband
and grandfather who not only survived, but flourished despite the Holocaust

 Dr. Allen and Dr. Amy Wolnerman, Sheri, Rabbi Daniel & Brenda and
Moshe Eliyahu Wolnerman
In honor of their beloved parents, grandparents and great-grandparents
David and Jennie (Neier) Wolnerman, who survived the Holocaust and
Have been blessed to bring life back to this world

 Dr. William and Deborah Rand
In memory of Deiga Teitelbaum, whoh gave chesed to all, Malk Grosz, a woman
of valor, and Avram and Bronta Rosmarin, wonderful parents, grandparents and
Great-grandparents. They will live in our hearts forever.

 BENCHES

 Anita Stern, Samuel Lee, Eltan Re-em and Shlomit Hila Heering
In memory our beloved parents and grandparents Elisabeth Pienica and
Leon Shloime Stern, survivors who embraced life and their family

 Avi and Melinda Tansman, Maya, Gil, Dean and Noam
In Loving Memory of our Cherished Parents and Grandparents
Cila and Yechezkel Tancman 

On front left pillar, recto

BASES

Lynn Welner Hahn
An everlasting memorial to those who perished and to enlighten our
future generations

Isaac Abady, Gabriel Glaun, Leo Loeffler, Adam Srtuhl,
Arielle Struhl and Danielle Wolkowicz
In honor of Rabbi Josh Broide, March of the Living 2009

Michael and Barbara Frenkel
In memory and in honor of our grandparents who perished in the Holocaust
and our parents who survived

Warren and Robin Struhl
In memory of Simon Gabor, a beautiful man, a great friend and a perfect 
example of a true mensch. The Struhl family misses you. 

HALF BASES

Rabbi Samuel J. and Beatrice Levine
In memory of the Levin/Berkowitz family (Drobin, Poland) and
the Kleinman/Grossman family

Lauren, Russel, Gabriel, Amy, Samuel and Ruth Glaun
In memory of our beloved grandparents Devorah, Chaim, Fanny, Harry, Leah,
Peisel, Cille and Louis and father Ivan.
Forever in our hearts.

Esther Roth, Alex Roth and family, Elliot Allswang and family
In memory of Josif Roth, beloved husband, father and grandfather

The BRS Men's Club
To remember and memorialize the 6 Million who tragically perished.
You will never be forgotten and always in our prayers.

Daniel and Caroline Katz, Sarah, Lilly, Hannah, Jacob, Pearl and Aaron
In memory of our family heroes who suffered during the Holocaust

On the front right stele 

FLAMES

Sarah, Joe, Jordan and Geoffrey Blumenthal
In memory of our beloved parents and grandparents
George and Berla Blass Grunbart, who survived the atrocities of Auschwitz
and were determined to build a strong Jewish family

Prosper and Pamela Abitol
In memory of our beloved fathers Lester Greenberg z"l and Jacob Abitol z"l

Seth Fisher
As part of my Bar Mitzvah in memory of my Grandfather
Joseph Hudson z"l, a survivor of the Holocaust who was such a source of 
inspiration to me and who I loved so much and miss every day. 

Deanna Shulman
In memory of the Rosenkranz Family

Moshe Hirth
"for the dear and the living, we must bear witness." - Elie Wiesel
In memory of my loving parents Eugenia (Sheindel) Grunfeld Hirth and 
Leo (Aryeh) Hirth

HALF BENCHES

Alan, Susie, Jacqueline, Alexandra, Sarah and Jacob Berger
Dedicated in honor of our father and grandfather Harry
a true survivor in every sense

Rabbi Efrem and Yocheved Goldberg
In loving memory of their great grandparents who gave their lives al Kidush
HaShem and in honor of their grandparents who survived and maintained their
faith in the darkest moments

Jeff and Fay Wolkowicz, Danielle, Shira and Matthew
In loving memory of Luba and Gedale Elbaum, cherished parents
and true survivors

Benjamin and Donna, Kelley, Elyse, Jonah and Aerin Tripp
In memory of our dear family who perished in the Shoah. 
In our hearts, their sacred memory will last forever. We will never forget.

First pillar rear

זכור

Translation: Remember

In sacred
Memory of the
6,000,000
Who perished
during the
Holocaust

Second pillar rear

Inscribed map of Eastern Europe

Third pillar rear (over a large inscribed map of Europe)

The Jewish population of the communities
shown on these three maps were deported
and most of the murdered.

Fourth pillar rear

Inscribed map of Western Europe

Fifth pillar rear (over a large inscribed map of Europe)

The names on this map
are the major slave labor camps
and killing sites of the Holocaust
There were over 100 more
such camps all over Europe

Sixth pillar rear

The last words of many on the lips
of many martyrs were

שמע ישראל הי אלקינו הי אחד

Translation: Hear O Israel The Lord our G-d is one Lord" (Deut. 6;4)

“Hear, O Israel; Hashem is our God
Hashem, the One and Only”

 In spite of the hardships endured,
the Jewish people are destined to be
a light to the nations of the world

עם ישראל חי

Translation: The nation of Israel lives

Commissioned by

Dr. Eric and Sarah (Halpern) Gordon

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

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Name/Title
Holocaust Memorial at Boca Raton Synagogue in Boca Raton, FL | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Synagogue (active)
{"10":"Any immovable marker or memorial that specifically references the Holocaust."}
Date
2010
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Judovits, Martin
{"4168":"Holocaust survivor"}
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Location
United States of America (USA) | Florida | Boca Raton, FL
| 7900 N Montoya Cir, Boca Raton, FL 33433
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Unknown |
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Material / Technique
Polished black granite (pillars and stele)
Gray granite slabs (supporting wall)
Metal (aluminum or zinc?) (sculpture)
Concrete (?) paving bricks
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
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Colors
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Measurements
Height
Length
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Thickness
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Weight
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Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
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Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance

The memorial was erected under the leadership of Alan Berger, the K.A.D.I.S.H. (Keeping Alive with Dedication the Interest in, and the Study of the Holocaust) The dedication was attended by hundreds of people and was highlighted by a keynote speech from Yisroel Meir Lau, the former Chief Rabbi of Israel (1993-2003) and the Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council.

Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources

"Our Story," Site of Boca Raton Synagogue, https://www.brsonline.org/our-story (accessed April 11, 2022)

Schwartz, David A., “Synagogue dedicates Holocaust memorial,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, November 30, 2010, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2010-11-30-fl-jjps-lau-1201-20101130-story.html (accessed September 11, 2022)
Type
Documenter
Samuel D. Gruber |
Author of description
Samuel D. Gruber |
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
|
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed: