The Czech town of Terezin (Theresienstadt in German) served both as a ghetto and as a transit camp for deportations to killing centres. The Nazis presented Theresienstadt as a “model ghetto” of “Jewish settlement.” It was used as a propaganda stunt to convince the world that Jews were being treated properly in concentration camps. The Nazis allowed the International Red Cross to tour the camp in 1944, but only after forcing the prisoners to “beautify” the ghetto.
Embedded on the Monument wall is the image of a prayer room at Theresienstadt, which was secretly painted by Rabbi Artur Berlinger, an Orthodox Jewish prisoner and artist from Germany. He continued to practice his faith with other prisoners as a form of resistance against the Nazis.
The ceiling of the prayer room features the Star of David in a night sky, and on the walls are painted Hebrew inscriptions that can be seen in many synagogues. One reads: “Before whom you are standing” (referring to God).
On September 28, 1944, Rabbi Berlinger was sent to Auschwitz, where he was murdered.