In April 1982, Dr. Stanley R. Robbin, M.D., a Holocaust
survivor and long-term resident of Long Beach, New York,
formed the Holocaust Memorial Committee of Long Island. Dr.
Robbin was a survivor of "Schindler's List" and a survivor
of the Mattausen concentration camp where he befriended
famed Nazi hunter, Simon Wiesenthal. The initial goal of Dr.
Robbin and the newly formed Holocaust Committee was to erect
a Holocaust Memorial Monument.In 1983, the ideas and
designs of a local architect, Dr. Robbin
were accepted and approved by the Executive Committee of the
Holocaust Memorial Committee and the City Council of the
City of Long Beach, New York.
On June 7, 1987, Dr. Robbin's dream was realized as the
Holocaust Memorial Monument was unveiled and dedicated at
its current site, Kennedy Plaza in front of the Long Beach,
New York City Hall.
The
monument which is constructed of highly polished black
granite, is a three sided upside down pyramid on a low
three sided base. The monument and it's base are surrounded
by triangular shaped "meditation" benches.
The first side of the pyramid which carries the legend, "To
the sacred and Eternal Memory of Over One Million Jewish
Children; who perished in the Holocaust", honors Janusz
Korczak "the King of Children."
The second side of the pyramid carries the inscription
"the Burning Bush which was not Consumed." It depicts
the Burning Bush and barbed wire across fire which
symbolizes the barbed wire of the concentration camps where
six million Jews and other victims died.
The drop of blood
symbolizes the cruel murder of the innocent victims of the
Nazis efforts at genocidal annihilation.
The third and final side of the pyramid which carries the
inscription "Their Brother Keepers", honors the righteous
Christians, the true heroes of our time. This panel gives
specific recognition to Raoul Wallenberg, Oskar Schindler,
and Father Maximilian Kolbe while it obviously honors many
other righteous Christians, as well.
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