Obj. ID: 44052
Memorials  Holocaust memorial at Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach, FL, USA, 2000s(?)

Name

Temple Beth El Holocaust Memorial Park

Who is Commemorated?

Jewish victims of the Holocaust

Description

The memorial is constructed in the middle of a large open greenspace between the original building (now a chapel) and the present-day synagogue. The memorial space is built as a series of low concrete walls with flat slate tops. The walls form a fragmented Magen David 9Star of David). Brick paths, with some bricks inscribed in memory of Holocaust victims, survivors or others, lead to the Star. The names of major death camps and ghettos are affixed to the exterior wall of each side of each point of the Star. One enters a central enclosure between these points and passes between the camp names.

Within the star is a hexagonal area, paved with six hexagonal concrete slabs (perhaps symbolizing the 6 million victims). Within this is a smaller hexagonal unpaved area filled with loose stones. At the center of this is yet another hexagon – a concrete base – on which sits a metal sculpture of a yellow Magen David mounted on a metal Y-shaped stylized tree. In front of this are four stylized figures, designed like children’s cut-outs, that represent a family. These are made of sheet metal and painted white. The four simple figures link hands.

Situated near the brick path that leads from the synagogue and the parking area, is a small rectangular bronze plaque set on a low pole set in the ground. This names the memorial park in honor of Holocaust survivors Eugene and Miriam Patipa.

Inscriptions

On a bronze plaque near the main entrance to the memorial:

Temple Beth El Holocaust
Memorial Park
In Honor of
Eugene and Miriam Patipa
Holocaust Survivors

 Names of Holocaust sites on the out walls of the Monument:

 Auschwitz
Bergen Belsen
Buchenwald
Dachau
Majdanek
Mauthausen
Sobibor
Terezin
Treblinka
Warsaw

There are also names inscribed on memorial bricks on the walkway.

Commissioned by

Temple Beth El