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Obj. ID: 48845
Memorials
  Holocaust Memorial in Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA, after 1973

© Samuel Gruber, Photographer: Gruber, Samuel D., 2023

Memorial Name

"Holocaust"

Who is Commemorated?

Jewish victims of the Holocaust

Description

The memorial is a large wall relief on the side wall of the large foyer area in front of the sanctuary of Temple Beth El, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The relief is in two levels. A large abstract background assembled from many cut pieces of gold-colored sheet metal (aluminum?) creates the impression of a wall in flames. Attached to this are three independent bronze sculptures which protrude in high relief.

On the left is a figurative group of a man and a woman with a small child. The woman carries the child in her arms and the child holds the mother. The mother moves to the left but looks back to the right. Behind her stands a man with outstretched arms in distress or anger.  His right arm reaches straight in the direction the woman is moving, and the man’s palm is open. His left arm is raised over his head and the palm is clenched.  The woman’s mouth is closed. The man’s mouth is open as if he is shouting.

In the center is a bronze relief of a damaged Torah scroll open to Chapter 12 of Genesis, where some of the words of verses 1-3 are legible in raised bronze letters. That passage, commonly known as Lekh L'khah calls Abraham from his father’s house and God promises to make his descendants a great nation.

On the right of the sculpture is a bronze relief of a nude female child being lifted by one foot by a disembodied arm, in a way that suggests torture or murder.  The arm is clenched on the ankle of the child who dangles upside down with her other leg extended, both arms extended, and her mouth open in a scream. A second arm with a clenched fist is connected to the first.

Two small metal (zinc?), rectangular tablets are attached to the wall to the right of the relief. They both give the names of the title and artist, and each indicates a separate family of donors. 

Inscription

On the bronze Torah scroll in the center of the work in Hebrew (Genesis 12: 1-4):

ויאמר יהוה אל א[ברם] לך לך [מארצך וממולדתך]
ומבית אביך אל הארץ [אשר אראך ואעשך לגוי]
גדול ואברכך ואגדלה [שמך והיה ברכה ואברכה]
מברכיך ומקללך אאר [ונברכו בך כל משפחת]
האדמה וילך אברם כאשר

Translation (via JPS 2006): יהוה said to A[bram], “Go forth [from your native land] and from your father’s house to the land [that I will show you]. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; [I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless] those who bless you. And curse the one who curses you; [And all the families of the earth Shall bless themselves by you.] Abram went forth as...
 
Upper Metal Plaque:

HOLOCAUST
BY
Arthur Schenider
In Loving Memory of
Benjamin Shwayder and Richard Shwayder
By The Shwayder Family

Lower Metal Plaque:
 

HOLOCAUST
BY
Arthur Schenider
In Loving Memory of
Sol and Frances Rosenhaus and Harold Ziv
By The Mel Rosenhaus Family

Commissioned By

The Shwayder Family and the Mel Rosenhaus Family

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

11 image(s)

sub-set tree:  

Name/Title
Holocaust Memorial at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, MI | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Synagogue (active)
{"10":"Any immovable marker or memorial that specifically references the Holocaust."}
Date
After 1973
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Unknown |
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Iconographical Subject
Material / Technique
Bronze
Aluminium (?)
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
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
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources
Type
Documenter
|
Author of description
Samuel Gruber | 2023
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
|
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed: