Representing the Ghetto

The process of constructing this site was accompanied by the question of whether it was at all possible to represent the ghetto, and if so – how? The Nazis constructed more than a thousand ghettos, that differed in fundamental ways. Needless to say, Jewish life within the ghettos also differed widely. There is no single “typical ghetto”. Also, the ghetto was a chaotic space dominated by hunger, disease, and transportations to death camps. Can such a place be represented at all?

In constructing the site we chose to deal with these questions in light of several guidelines:

1. A historical reconstruction of one particular ghetto had been intentionally avoided. In its place, an imaginary space was constructed, as a symbolic representation of the ghetto. Nevertheless the street was composed of historical photographs of several ghettos, so that some key characteristics could be represented. For instance, in some of the ghettos Jews were forced to wear a yellow star, whilst in others, an armband was enforced. We have chosen to show both methods of marking. (Historically, there were instances of ghettos in which Jews bore the various markings, as they had originated from different areas.)
2. The street constructed for the site is an entryway to the world of the ghetto. We have chosen to anchor the process of learning with authentic historical exhibits from several ghettos: testimonies, stories, photographs, songs and artifacts. The exhibits are accompanied by short explanations and activities, inviting the students to closely observe the exhibits, reflect on their meanings and create connection to their own world.
3. Due to the young age of the learners, we avoided discussion of death in the ghetto and the deportations to the death camps.

Children grow up in a world dominated by the visual medium. In order to create interest in the studies of Holocaust we attempted to create a site in which the visual language will enhance curiosity and encourage study. We also aspired to create a symbolic representation of ghettos that preserves the memory of Jews imprisoned in them.