Holocaust Memorial construction finally underway

Breaking ground for the new memorial.

Ten years of meetings, designs, negotiations, stops and starts all led to a warm sunny Monday morning on May 11. Shovels in the ground, handshakes and excitement in the air. The Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial in downtown Providence is finally being built.

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo,  representatives from the State House delegations and dignitaries from the community were in attendance. A crowd of community members closely watched the speeches, accolades and stories, which members of the news media recorded.

Every speaker reminded the crowd of the importance of this monument to survivors of the Holocaust as well as to the victims. “This will be a place to learn, reflect, remember,” said Rabbi Wayne Franklin of Temple Emanu-El.

Governor Raimondo said she hoped that visitors would use this as “an opportunity to express kindness.”

And Rep. David Cicilline said he hoped it would also serve as a reminder that we have to continue to work against bigotry and hatred.

The Jewish community of greater Rhode Island has known for years about the efforts to build this monument. A committee of dedicated volunteers has carried out the vision of the original donors, including David Newman, to build a memorial to survivors of the Holocaust. Thanks to their efforts, the building should be completed and ready for dedication in August. The site is adjacent to the World War I and II memorials in Memorial Park on Main Street.

Committee Chair Herb Stern thanked everyone for their hard work, including those “who contributed their treasures.

The memorial is the design of Providence artist Jonathan Bonner. Will Greene is the landscape architect on the project. It includes Bluetooth technology to connect visitors to educational materials developed by the Holocaust Education and Resource Center of Rhode Island, as well as to websites and other materials on the Holocaust. Visitors will be able to connect via smartphone or tablet. The technology component was a collaboration with Johnson & Wales University.

FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.