Within Jewish tradition over the centuries there was no special service for the Unveiling of the tombstone or plaque. Only in recent times has this ceremony been introduced, usually after the 11 months of daily recitation of the Kaddish - the prayer. This specific prayer does not mention death. It affirms the power and glory of the Lord.
With the dispersion of families, the Unveiling became another rare opportunity for members of the family to re gather and acknowledge the life and the death of a member of the family.
Recently we attended the Unveiling of a sister who had survived the Holocaust. Her parents were slaughtered by the Nazis with no idea where. Meeting together to honor her we were also able to establish a place to honor her parents.
Bak’s monumental Pear is often a symbol for Life. It is the shape of the womb. Even fractured this pear has become a site for remembering and honoring all who were killed.
There is an opening for us to witness the house and the chimney as reminders of the crematorium that incinerated millions.
The cracked surface of the Pear provides the many triangles of the Yellow Star that Jews were made to wear.
The leaves and the small complete pears speak of continued life and birth.
The figure with his back to the viewer is attired as a Chasid. He holds a cloth or shroud which gradually is transformed into a scroll. Does the scroll list the names of those who were murdered and for whom the Unveiling is taking place?
Finally, as our eye is pulled into the landscape a roughhewn Pear emerges.
Many monuments to enable us to remember and honor especially on Holocaust Memorial Day.
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