4. Shoah Memorial
The memorial for the victims of the Shoah was inaugurated on 17th of June 2018 to commemorate the persecution, deportation and killing of Jews during the Second World War.
Before the war, more than 3,500 Jewish people lived in Luxembourg. Among them were immigrants from Eastern Europe as well as German Jews who had fled Nazi-Germany since 1933, seeking asylum in the Grand Duchy to escape aggressive antisemitic persecution.
After the occupation of the country by Nazi troops, the strict Nürnberg Racial Laws were also introduced and applied in Luxembourg. A stricter usage of these laws in Luxembourg followed. More than 2,500 Jews fled to France, but many were later arrested there and deported to extermination camps in Poland.
About 800 Jews who had remained in Luxembourg were placed in a temporary internment camp in Fünfbrunnen before being deported to Lodz, Auschwitz and Terezin (Theresienstadt). Only 36 Luxembourg Jews survived the concentration camps.
The memorial is located close to the former location of the old Synagogue built in 1823 which was given up for the construction of a larger Synagogue in the ‘rue Notre Dame’. It exists solely in a painting and a commemorative plaque in the ‘rue de la Congrégation’.
The granite sculpture was designed and produced by the Franco-Israeli sculptor Shelomo SELINGER. This Polish born artist survived nine concentration camps and two death marches. This explains his personal testimonial for this memorial:
‘Kaddish is a Jewish prayer for the dead in which no mention of death is made. I am a laic person, a former deportee, son of a mother and father killed by the Nazis just as my little sister, my entire family and my entire people. I have never before spoken a Kaddish, but with the aid of the stones entrusted to me and with hammer and chisel, I was able to engrave my Kaddish prayer in granite. I prayed for two years, even as a laic person who does not believe in God’s existence.’
Text of the Kaddish:
‘Magnified and sanctified is the great name of God throughout the world which was created according to Divine will. May the rule of peace be established speedily in our time, unto us and unto the entire household of Israel. And let us say: Amen.
May his great name be praised throughout all eternity. Glorified and celebrated, lauded and praised, acclaimed and honoured, extolled and exalted ever be the name of thy Holy One, far beyond all song and psalm, beyond all hymns of glory which mortals can offer. And let us say: Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, with life’s goodness for us and for all thy people of Israel. And let us say: Amen.
May the One who brings peace to the universe bring peace to us and to all the people of Israel. And let us say: Amen.’
Significance for Human Rights
The monument reminds us of the victims of antisemitism who suffered the cruelty of Nazi racial politics. The monument also reminds us never to shut our eyes when confronted with similar atrocities committed in the name of a political ideology, no matter what kind.
Article 1
All people are born free and equal.
Article 2
Everyone is equal regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, politics, or where they were born.
Article 3
Everyone has the right to life and to live in freedom and safety.
Article 5
Everyone has the right to be free from torture.
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
