Jewish memorial on Grosse Hamburger Strasse, Berlin
This is part of a small memorial on a street just north of Berlin's centre.
Grosse Hamburger Strasse was one of the main streets of Berlin's Jewish Quarter in the lead up to World War II. Also on the street was an old people's home that was used as a detention centre for many thousands of the Jews condemned to death at Auschwitz.
The building was destroyed, and in its place is this small memorial and a statue that represents a group of Jews being led to their deaths. I will feature a photo of the statue in the next few days.
The placing of stones by visitors is a similar gesture to the lighting of candles. Though we are not Jewish, we placed a stone.
This is a very powerful place, and it certainly made us stop and think about our inhumanity towards our fellow man. What have we the human race learned 70+ years on? Have we learned to embrace those who are not like us? Have we learned to tolerate the different beliefs of others? Have we learned to show compassion to our neighbours, irrespective of their culture, religion, politics or colour? Sadly, no we haven't. People still have their lives taken, ruined, oppressed because of what is in their heart and head, because of the god they choose to follow, because of the colour of their skin, because of their gender, because of their political beliefs.
Some of us have learned the lessons, but sadly I look to a phrase coined by Oliver Stone, when I say that the "Tyranny of Now" remains alive and in good health. There are those whose deeds feature on our news bulletins who are every bit as vile as the perpetrators of the crimes against humanity committed in this place 3 generations ago.
All the different layers are amazing. I really like the high contrast on the wood bringing out the grain, the texture of the rocks and shelf and then the shadow of the vines. Very intimate composition.
Sean, this is so moving. The photo is stunning and thoughtfully created. It has the feel of the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem with the cracks there holding messages instead of stones. Your commentary was as thoughtful as the image.
Beautiful image. Thoughtful and thought-provoking post. Sadly we do still have the 'Tyranny of Now'. It's a bit like, 'Where have all the flowers gone?..When will they ever learn?'
Beautiful photograph - and very moving words from you, too. I haven't been to Berlin - are there also memorials for the additional eleven million who were murdered by the Nazis. 2.5 million Poles (not Jewish), Soviets, Romanies, mentally ill, deaf, physically and mentally disabled, homosexual, transexual .
September 8th, 2013
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