Philadelphia Unveils 2,000-Square-Foot Holocaust Memory Mural in 28 Languages

Philadelphia has unveiled the nation's first large-scale public mural dedicated to Holocaust remembrance at the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza. Titled "Lay–lah Lay–lah," the 2,000-square-foot mural by artist Ella Ponizovsky Bergelson features hand-painted calligraphy in 28 languages, including extinct ones, representing memories, lullabies, prayers, and poems that reflect themes of forced displacement and survival. The mural was created in collaboration with the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation and Mural Arts Philadelphia and aims to inspire reflection on the aftermath of the Holocaust and the ongoing impact of displacement globally. Ponizovsky Bergelson, a Berlin-based artist and great-granddaughter of Yiddish writer Dovid Bergelson, designed the mural to challenge viewers to remember and consider how memory is preserved or overwritten. The mural's dedication comes amid rising antisemitism and serves as a call to remember the six million Jews who perished while encouraging conversations about human experience and resilience. The site also honors Holocaust survivors with existing memorials and artifacts, deepening the educational and commemorative significance of the plaza.