14 | JULY 18 • 2024
J
N
A
new Holocaust
memorial concept is
hoping to take ground
in Metro Detroit.
As the brainchild of
Assembly of the World
Diasporas, an organization
that works in different
countries to unite leaders
of various ethnic groups
and diasporas, the Gate of
Immortality — Holocaust and
Heroism Memorial plans to
honor those subjected to the
horrors of World War II and
the tragedy of the Holocaust
with memorials worldwide.
Now, the concept also
hopes to address rising global
antisemitism as a result of the
ongoing Israel-Hamas war,
which has hit especially hard
on college campuses.
The first Gate of
Immortality site has been
secured in Queens, N.Y. The
memorial will be placed on
the south side
of the Queens
Borough Hall in
one of New York
City’s biggest
Jewish enclaves.
Ilya Bromberg,
77, of Oak
Park, who is the Midwest
representative of Assembly
of the World Diasporas, is
working to identify a Metro
Detroit site next.
While a site hasn’t been
secured yet, Bromberg says
there are many possibilities in
the Metro Detroit community,
which is home to numerous
iconic Jewish institutions
such as The J-Detroit,
Zekelman Holocaust Center,
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
and beyond.
Currently, Assembly of the
World Diasporas is welcoming
interested parties to contact
the organization about being
the potential home of the
Metro Detroit memorial or to
discuss funding opportunities
to facilitate the creation and
build-out of the project.
HONORING THE PAST
The Gate of Immortality
— Holocaust and Heroism
Memorial will include four
main elements. Centering the
concept is the main gate of the
composition, which will be
formed by two vertical walls
representing the walls of the
Old City of Jerusalem.
The names of the places of
mass exterminations of Jews
during the Holocaust will be
engraved on the inner surfaces
on one of the walls. The other
wall, meanwhile, will have
official data engraved on the
number of Jewish soldiers who
fought against the Nazis.
Bromberg says the walls
will also be designed in a way
that can be used to display
holographic and/or laser
projections of drawings and
paintings by children from
around the world on the
theme of “A World Without
Hate,” as well as work by
renowned artists.
Projections can also
include thematic exhibitions
showcasing historical
photographs, videos, artifacts
and more surrounding World
War II and the Holocaust. The
walls will also be installed on
a pedestal-like stage made in
the form of the Star of David.
At the base of the Star of
David will be illuminated
sculptural images and
imprints of Nazi symbols,
Assembly of the World Diasporas seeks a home for the idea.
New Holocaust Memorial Concept
Eyes Metro Detroit
Ilya
Bromberg
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
OUR COMMUNITY
ASSEMBLY OF THE WORLD DIASPORAS
A sketch of the proposed memorial