Collection

Montreal Holocaust Museum

Description Level

Item

Material Type

graphic material

Physical Description

Drawing : paper : Print : Ink : Black, White ; Ht: 30 cm x W: 20,5 cm

Other Title Information

Original Art, Work on Paper

Date

1947

Creator

Markowitz-Benjamin, Sylvia

Physical Condition

Good

Language

English

German

Notes

Print of a drawing by Sylvia Malkowitz, depicts 8 headstones that mark the burial of over 1000 Jewish ashes at a concentration camp. Text on one plaque reads "Here Lies 1000 Bodies" in English and German. A chimney can be seen in the distance. The weather is bleak as five birds fly into the distance. Narrative: Sylvia Benjamin (then Markowitz) started working as overseas staff for the American Joint Distribution Committee in Dec 1945. Her first assignment was at the Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons camp near Hamburg. She was charged with interviewing for and distributing visas to Sweden, helping Jews locate surviving family, and for arranging medical care. After 6 months she was transferred to Hamburg where she helped re-establish a Jewish community. Her focus was on rebuilding a sense of community and spirit above mere survival requirements.

Accession No.

2011X.75.08

Name Access

Benjamin, Sylvia

Places

Germany, Europe

Archival / Genealogical

Archival Descriptions

Repository

Montreal Holocaust Museum

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