New projects
The Gate of immortality Holocaust and Heroism Memorial for the State of Michigan
Considering that on January 27, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where the Nazis exterminated almost a million European Jews, the Assembly of the World Diasporas (501c3) have taken the initiative to establish the Gate of Immortality – Holocaust and Heroism Memorial in theseveral states of USA and countries of the world, including even in those that were not subjected to the horrors of World War II and the tragedy of the Holocaust.
After the tragedy of October 7 and the dramatic growth of global anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism, there are a dramatic increase in manifestations of hatred of Jews, rude mass pro-Palestinian demonstrations are organized and carried out on university and college campuses, and international organizations, primarily the UN, sharply and unlawfully criticize the Jewish State that it defends the right to existence and independence.
The mission of the Memorial is to combine universal humanitarian values, historical facts, national Jewish symbols and traditions, the horrors of the tragedy of European Jewry with an expression of sympathy and solidarity of the peoples of the world with the victims of the Holocaust, as well as recognition of the Heroism of Jewish soldiers in World War II, using the methods and means of architecture, fine arts, and modern technology.
The first Gates of Immortality – Holocaust and Heroism Memorial to be installed in Queens will be one of New York City’s iconic Jewish landmarks. Queens Borough President Mr. Donovan Richards have identified the site for the Memorial on the south side of the Queens Borough Hall, facing Queens Blvd. Mayor of New York City, Mr. Eric Adams, also issued the letter with his official support and involvement for this project.
Knowing personal attitude of Jews in Michigan to the life and history of the Jewish people, to the tragedies experienced by Jews, we would like to present to Jewish community our concept and sketches of the Gate of Immortality – Holocaust and Heroism Memorial to be established in the State of Michigan.
The memorial includes four main elements, which are combined into a single architectural composition “Gate of Immortality”.
- The main gate of the composition, formed by two vertical walls imitating the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, is made of a concrete monolith or blocks imitating Jerusalem stone. To create an open space for the gate, the walls are installed at a certain distance from each other at a certain angle.
On the entire outer surface of both walls there are relief art images of the Jerusalem Gates (for example, Zion, Jaffa, or Lion Gates).
The names of the places of mass extermination of Jews during the Holocaust are engraved on the inner surfaces of one of the walls. On the inner surface of another wall is engraved official data on the number of Jewish soldiers from the many countries who bravely fought against Nazi Germany.
The inner surfaces of each wall are designed in such a way that they can be used to display holographic and/or laser projections of drawings and paintings by children from all over the world on the theme of “A World without Hate”, as well as artwork by world famous artists, sculptors, architects. Thematic expositions can also be presented here, which will show laser, holographic and light images of artifacts, historical photographs, as well as videos on the Holocaust tragedy, manifestations of hatred motivated by xenophobia, anti-Semitism, racism.
- The walls are installed on a pedestal-stage, made in the form of the Star of David – a symbol of the Jewish people. The Star of David can be made from assorted colors of granite or from dense concrete.
- The base of the Star of David is located at ground level, below which (actually in a pit) there are illuminated sculptural images and imprints of Nazi symbols – fragments of the gates of Auschwitz (with the inscription “Arbeit Macht Frei”) and Buchenwald (with the inscription “Jedem Das Seine”) – the main concentration camps of Europe, fragments of ghetto fences and barriers, barbed wire, doors or dampers of gas chambers, armbands of policemen, fascist helmets and other Nazi paraphernalia.
- It is well known that most Jews were transported to the places of extermination by railroad. Therefore, in the Memorial around the Star of David, on fragments of sleepers, there is a symbolic circular single rail of railway, which looks like a tragic loop.
Thus, the symbols of the Jewish people in the form of the Star of David, the walls and gates of Old City of Jerusalem, rise abovethe symbolic pit, where the attributes of the defeated Nazism are thrown with contempt and curses, as if crushing and squeezing them out. Visitors to the Memorial can see and walk on the hated symbols of fascism and Nazism, trampling them, which symbolizes the Victory and survival of the Civilized World.
In addition to historical meaning, the Gates of Immortality and the walls of Jerusalem are a symbol of peace and protection from the horrors of any genocide, both for the souls of the dead and for living people and future generations, not only for Jewish people, but for all Muslims, Christians, and other peoples of the world.
Now more than ever, the implementation of Jewish projects that contribute to the establishment of our national identity, commitment to democratic principles and tolerance requires the active participation of local and World Jewish organizations, community leaders, philanthropists, and sponsors.
We appeal to the members of Michigan Jewish community, with a request to express your competent opinion on the project. We urgently need your recommendations for selecting a prestigious and secure site for the Memorial in the State of Michigan, as well as for inviting Jewish and non-Jewish philanthropists, corporations, state and local government in funding this significant Jewish landmark in your state.
The honorary names of the authors, organizers and sponsors of the Holocaust and Heroism Memorial will be engraved on a special panel of the Memorial. The Memorial may be given a name proposed by the organizers and/or sponsors of the project.
Leonid Bard,
CEO,
Assembly of the World Diasporas
e-mail: bard1143@msn.com
Ilya Bromberg,
Midwest Representative,
Assembly of the World Diasporas
President “Children Making Tomorrow”
Detroit, tpibrom@aol.com
New activities are coming.
1.We are going to start dance class for kids. 2.Provide few international kids art contests (with special need as well – cooperation with Friendship Circle.) (manage Abram Sumkhayev.)
Sincerely Board of Directors
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