In the heart of Manhattan, a sobering tribute to one of history’s darkest chapters stands subtly integrated into the architecture of a public building. The Appellate Division Courthouse, located at Madison Avenue and 25th Street in the Flatiron District, is home to a hidden Holocaust memorial that many passersby overlook.
A Memorial in Plain View
On the northwest corner of the courthouse, a tall column rises inconspicuously. Designed by sculptor Harriet Feigenbaum in 1990, this 38-foot-high column serves as a haunting reminder of the Holocaust. At eye level, intricate carvings depict an aerial view of Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi concentration camp.
Shocking details
Upon closer inspection, the carved map reveals the grim layout of Auschwitz. Key features, including the commandant’s house, execution wall, torture chamber, gas chamber, and crematorium, are etched into the stone. The flames sculpted along the length of the column evoke the fiery destruction caused by the gas chambers.
A First of Its Kind
This memorial was groundbreaking at its time, marking the first Holocaust-themed sculpture ever installed on a public building in the United States. Its placement on a courthouse was intentional, symbolizing the fragility of justice in the face of indifference.
A Photograph That Questions Morality
Feigenbaum’s design is based on an aerial photograph taken on August 25, 1944, by the 15th US Army Air Force. The photograph clearly shows the concentration camp, raising a poignant question: Why did the Allied forces, aware of Auschwitz’s existence, fail to intervene? This moral dilemma is central to the memorial’s message.
A Reminder of Justice
Inscribed on the memorial is the quote, “Indifference to injustice is the gate to hell.” Feigenbaum chose this powerful statement to emphasize the importance of vigilance in protecting justice. She hopes that the courthouse, a symbol of legal integrity, will be fortified by this somber reminder of the horrors that unfold when justice and humanity are abandoned.