Obj. ID: 53309 Holocaust memorial in Oratorio Israelitico Synagogue in Casale Monferrato, Italy, 1998
Name of Monument
Untitled [Holocaust memorial]
Who/What is Commemorated?
The deported and killed Jews of Casale Monferrato and Moncalvo
Description
The (modern) elevator is installed at the far end of this space, to the left of the memorial. The memorial – a mixed-media artwork – is affixed to a wall in the corner of a large room off the synagogue courtyard. The memorial is made of several parts, with one small element, an inscribed oval of glass set between the elevator and the corner commemorating the Jews of Moncalvo. Most of the artwork under an arch is to the right of the corner.
The most visually impressive part of the memorial is eleven roughly rectangular terracotta panels fitted together mosaic-like into four irregular rows. Together, they resemble a wall of large blocks to recall the Kotel (Western Wall) of the Jerusalem Temple. Six of the panels bear Hebrew words in large, raised letters. Between some of the terracotta panels are inserted what looks like folded or rolled paper notes – but made of clay.
Inserted from the highest point of the ceiling vault arch into the second row of ceramic tiles of the “wall” is a tall narrow glass panel on which are inscribed the names of the Holocaust victims from Casale.
To the right of the panel and the upper right of the ceramic “wall” are six pieces of glazed ceramic. These are affixed to the wall in an irregular pattern and appear to float from the ceiling down toward the memorial. Each piece is roughly rectangular, but the clay was bunched when wet, so each piece undulates, like paper in the wind. One piece is glazed white, there other in three shades of blue. These represent more notes left at Kotel.
Inscriptions
On oval panel:
1938
LEGGI RAZZIALI
1944
ARRESTATI A MONCALVO
IL 19-14 MAGGIO
UCCISI AD AUSCHWITZ
[4 NAMES]
IN RICORDO DELLA
ANTICA E FIORENTE
COMUNITÀ EBRAICA
DI MONCALVO
Translation: 1938 / Racial laws / 1944 / Arrested in Moncalvo / May 19-14 / Murdered in Auschwitz / [4 Names] / In remembrance of antique and flourishing / Jewish community / of Moncalvo.
On tall narrow panel:
1938 LEGGI RAZZIALI
1943-1945
DEPORTATI E UCCISI
[59 NAMES, alphabetical by last name]
IN MEMORIA AI CASALESI
PER NON DIMENTICARE
1998 – 22 NOVEMBRE
5759 – 3 KISLEV
Translation: 1938 racial laws / 1943-1945 / Deported and murdered / [List of 59 names, alphabetical by last name] / In memory of the residents of Casale / in order not to forget / 1998 - November 22 / 5759
מונפירטו קאסאלי ק ק
Translation: The holy community of Casale Monferrato
COMMUNITÀ EBRAICA
DI CASALE MONFERRATO
Translation: Jewish Community of Casale Monferrato
Hebrew words on the ceramic tiles:
שואה
נט
שלום
מדור לדור
Translation: Shoah / ? / Peace / From generation to generation
Commissioned by
Jewish Community of Casale Monferrato
11 image(s)
Glazed ceramic
Glass
Antonio Racalcati, Untitled, 1998
The memorial commemorates two decisive events of the Holocaust that affected the Jews of Casale Monferrato. At the top: 1938, the year the racial laws were enacted in Fascist Italy, and 1943-1945, the years of the deportations.
The artist, Antonio Recalcati, was a friend to the community and helped found the Jewish Community Museum’s impressive collection of modern and contemporary Hanukkah lamps.
Casale Ebraica, https://www.casalebraica.org/en/jewish-museum/entrance-and-shoah-memorial, https://www.casalebraica.org/en/jewish-museum/entrance-and-shoah-memorial.
Pavoncello, Eliana. “Antonio Recalcati, artista discreto e profondo. Il 4 dicembre ci ha lasciati un’artista di fama internazionale, ben radicato e amato a Casale Monferrato,” Riflessi, https://riflessimenorah.com/la-comunita-di-casale-monferrato-ricorda-antonio-recalcati/ (accessed February 28, 2024)
“L’accensione delle Luci della Memoria all’ingresso del complesso ebraico di Casale Monferrato,” Monferrato Web TV, Jan 20, 2023., https://www.monferratowebtv.it/2023/01/30/laccensione-delle-luci-della-memoria-allingresso-del-complesso-ebraico-di-casale-monferrato/ (accessed February 28, 2024)