Sydney Jewish Memorial Museum Essay

The memorialisation and commemoration of significant events, whether they be significant politically, culturally or personally, conveys history from a multitude of different perspectives, thus allowing connections through human experiences. Public memorials specifically aim to highlight the impact and importance’s of significant events, and to connect people through the past, present and future of societal acts.

The Sydney Jewish Memorial Museum memorialises the Jewish Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews, in addition to other minorities, were targeted and brutally killed during World War 2. The museum aims not only to honour the victims but also to educate people about the horrors that occurred, in order to prevent a reoccurrence and to strive

The memorialisation of the Holocaust is effectively conveyed through the oral recounts of Jewish survivors, in which collective and individual memories are explored. Having the ability to hear firsthand the experiences of a Holocaust survivor is enormously impactful, as putting a name and face to a horrible story allows for a deeper connection and understanding of the acts against humankind. 95-year-old Holocaust Survivor, Jack Meister, is one of the few survivors left in Australia. Continuously telling his story and reflecting upon his own experiences has not only allowed him to memorialise those which he had lost but also impacts the visitor's perception of the historical event, as hearing Jack’s experience through war camps first-hand is largely different from reading about it. In order to preserve the stories and memories of these Holocaust

The ‘Maccabean Hall’, designed by architect Gordon Keesing in the 1920s, was originally established as a social and educational center for Sydney’s Jewish community, and commemorated those Jewish soldiers who served in World War 1. After the second world war, the hall had become curial in rehabilitating and integrating Jewish refugees. Keeping the integrating and importance of the building, the museum adapted its design to mould into the space which was such a paramount part of Sydney Jewish culture. In addition to the significant element of original infrastructure, the museum has also incorporated elements of design with commemorate and memorialise the victims, survivors, and those taken away in the Holocaust. The staircase, covered with names, both in Jewish and English, act as a reminder of those whom we have lost, and those who have survived. In conjunction with the names, the staircase, when initially looking up, from the base of the museum, is shaped as a fractured star of David, highlighted the chaos, disarray and disconnecting from their culture throughout the Holocaust. However, once reaching the top and final sections of the museum, the star can be seen once again as a full star, representing the unity and holiness that had repaired itself over the years. Overall, the creative and effective way commemorating the victims,