The New England Holocaust Memorial: Wherever prejudice is tolerated, evil can happen again.
Written: Jul 21 '02 (Updated Jul 21 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Awesome Memorial in a city with charm and character.
Cons: Please be careful while crossing the street. Walking is hazardous!
The Bottom Line: This is a must see if you are in Boston whatever your religion or non-religion. Don?t pass it by.
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| jo.com's Full Review: New England Holocaust Memorial |
The New England Holocaust Memorial is located in Carmen Park, Congress Street near Faneuil Hall, on Boston’s Freedom Trail.
General Information:
~From a distance the 6 tall glass structures look interesting but not terribly unusual in a city filled with a variety of architecture. Approaching the structures, though, through a very pretty small park, you realize that these are not just any ordinary structures. As you approach the structures either by walking through the park or by entering from the street, you see the a quote by Elie Weisel. A short bio of Elie Weisel is at the bottom of this review.**
I would like to share the quote with you, “...We must look at these towers of memory and say to ourselves, ‘No one should ever deprive a human being of his or her right to dignity. No one should ever deprive anyone of his or her right to be a sovereign human being. No one should ever speak again about racial superiority.’ “...We cannot give evil another chance.”
The glass structures:
•The 6 glass structures are each 54’ high and lit internally to gleam at night. Each structure is over a dark chamber, which carries the name of the main Nazi concentration camps. Smoke rises at the bottom of these chambers and as you walk on the path you walk through a layer of thin smoke. The 6 towers symbolize several things:
1. The 6 main camps
2. The 6 million Jews who died
3. A menorah of memorial candles.
~From a distance I didn’t think I would be moved by this experience. I haven’t been to other Holocaust Memorials but I have been to Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam. The first indication that this would bring me to tears was the realization that on each glass structure 6 million numbers are etched in the glass representing the tattooed numbers on the arms of Jews.
~It is clear from the writing on the plague, as you come upon the Memorial, that there is acknowledgment that Jews are not the only ones who died horrific deaths during this period. In fact, 5 million other people were put to death including “Gypsies, Jehovah’s witnesses, political dissidents, homosexuals, and the mentally and physically disabled.” (This quote, as well as some other factual material which I would not know otherwise, comes from a brochure that is available in a metal stand by the Memorial. It isn’t prominent so if you go look for this stand. The door opens like one that sells newspapers and you can reach in and get a brochure.) The information from the brochure is excerpted from the Memorial’s dedication and introductory panel.
The quotes:
~Along the walkway there are quotes written on both the glass structures and the black granite path. They are chill provoking. There were two that made the most impression. I can quote one because it is in the brochure. Most quotes are from Holocaust survivors.
“Ilse, a childhood friend of mine, once found a raspberry in the camp and carried it in her pocket all day to present to me that night on a leaf. Imagine a world in which your entire possession is one raspberry and you give it to your friend.” Gerda Weissman Klein.
The other one goes something like this: I picked up what looked like a charred ember and then realized it was a bone. I was about to throw it on the ground when I realized that it might be the very last part of a person. I carried it with me until I could stop and bury it.
~You will want to stop and read everything written. The walkway ends with a quote that you may know. "They came first for the communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics because and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak up." Information about the author is below.***
It is written in stone and I was surprised to hear that many people standing near me had never heard it before.
More general information:
~The park and walkway are beautifully maintained and spotless. "It was dedicated in October 1995 with over 3,000 individuals and organizations from across the community joining in to sponsor the memory of one of the great tragedies of our time, the Holocaust." (The Hebrew word for Holocaust is Shoah).
~Educational and interpretive assistance and materials are available for groups planning to visit the Memorial. You can schedule to meet with a speaker or tour guide.
~I went on a Sunday afternoon and although there were people visiting it wasn’t crowded enough to feel as if I didn’t have time to stop and read everything. It is a quiet area; people were, as expected, somber and respectful.
Fees, parking and other information:
~There is no fee to see the Memorial but donations are accepted by sending a check to Friends of the New England Holocaust Memorial, PO Box 2161, Boston, MA 02106.
~This is located in the heart of one of Boston's busiest areas. There is little street parking, although if you work hard enough you may find a meter. You will find parking lots that will be worth the price (You could spend $25 to park.) since most likely you will be spending the day. If you get to know our amazing transit system, you can get here from most anywhere in and around the Boston area.
~This Memorial has won the 1998 Henry Bacon Medal for Memorial Architecture, American Institute of Architects and the 1997 Harleston Parker Medal, Boston Society of Architects.
~You will spend anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour here. This is a must see if you are in Boston whatever your religion or non-religion. Don’t pass it by.
For more information about the Memorial, please see these websites. I didn’t go to them until after I wrote the review and the picture at the first site is incredible!
http://www.nehm.com/
http://boston.about.com/library/weekly/aa012800.htm
**Elie Weisel is French American author, whose work addresses Jewish themes, dealing in part with the experiences of Jews who suffered in Nazi concentration camps during World War II (1939-1945). He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his work in promoting human rights.
Wiesel, Elie," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
***Martin Neimoeller was a Lutheran Pastor who delivered speeches against Jews during the Nazi regime. He later opposed Hitler and was sent to a concentration camp.
If you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear them. Feel free to e-mail me or leave a comment in the space provided.
This review has been edited and moved from the general Boston category.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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