EHRS unveils permanent memorial to October 7

On Sunday 5 October Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS) unveiled a permanent memorial to the victims of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.  The memorial was created and sculpted by EHRS member Josette Aitman Perloff and unveiled by her sons Dillon and Jake Perloff.

More than 80 families in the community donated to the creation of the sculpture in a campaign led by member Laurence Stein. Among those attending were EHRS members Frances Segelman – sculptor of busts of many Holocaust Survivors, the Royal Family and many British celebrities – and Kurt Marx, a centenarian Holocaust Survivor whose bust is one of Frances Segelman’s works.

The ceremony of unveiling included a tekes (memorial ceremony) for the victims of the attacks and the remaining hostages in Gaza.

The sculpture is based on a tree of life and the ground of the area around the Gaza envelope, with its characteristic anemone (Calaniot) flowers. It is installed in the memorial garden of EHRS, close to the Synagogue’s Shoah Memorial created some years ago by EHRS member sculptor Cheryl Gould.

Josette Aitman Perloff said: “When I was approached about this commission, I was extremely moved to do something about October 7. I felt such a strong connection to Israel and after thinking about many different ideas, I kept coming back to the same one, which is a tree. It is symbolic for many reasons: the tree of life, the trees on the kibbutzim and surrounding area, Israel’s connection to nature, the fact that a tree re-blooms and new life begins again.

“The tree has seven branches, one of them being a dove to represent peace, healing and hope. It has yellow ribbons and a poster saying ‘bring them home.’ This will immortalise this time and allow it to never be forgotten, even in years to come when questions are asked about the sculpture. Those answers would be given easily and give a sense of what it was like to live in this time.

“Although this tree is primarily flowerless due to the loss, there are buds at the tips of each branch to show that new life will begin again. The tree is on a base symbolising the area around the kibbutzim named on the sculpture and the Nova festival. No longer lush and full of nature as it would normally be in these parts of Israel. Bare, stark, symbolic of what has taken place, the destruction and loss of lives. However, there will be a few personal objects dotted around – things that have been left behind or memories that have been imprinted. Shoes or footprints, a dummy, a paw print.

“The sculpture includes a heart with the initials of Jake Marlowe z’’l,  three generations of whose family are members of our community. Jake was murdered at the Nova Music Festival. Next to each object is a tiny flower to show that the lives meant something and are not forgotten. The flowers are typical of the Gaza Envelope area – delicate red anemones.

“The sculpture is personal and intimate, a memorial sculpture to look at and examine, something made with sensitivity. Our community is still suffering, feeling fragile and there are still hostages out there.

“There is a small square cut out at the base allowing grass to grow through, symbolising the land that is tended for so carefully in this part of Israel. The sculpture will be a continuous reminder, integrating and connecting us to the lives that have been lost and the suffering of all those affected.’

Rabbi Mark Goldsmith said: “The beautiful piece that Josette has created is an extraordinary and effective memorial to the losses of the Israeli people and Jewish communities around the world. It’s genius is that it is also a testament to Jewish resilience, built into nature and with beauty among the horror, with the possibility of growth and renewal always there. More than 80 families in our community donated to the creation of this memorial and it is testament to their determination that Jewish life and Israel will find its way back to thrive again, whilst remembering the depth of our loss and especially of those families whose loved ones were killed.”

1)  The Dove of Peace in the sculpture

2)  Full view of Sculpture

3)  Sculptor Josette Aitman Perloff with her work

4)  The unveiling ceremony attendees

5)   Dillon and Jake Perloff unveil their mother’s sculpture

6)   Details of the sculpture