As the Tenth of Tevet approaches—a day the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has dedicated to Holocaust remembrance—we focus on unique ways to honor the victims. This year, we highlight the Stolpersteine Project (Stumbling Stones), the largest decentralized memorial to Holocaust victims worldwide.

What Are Stolpersteine?

Stolpersteine, or "Stumbling Stones," are small brass plaques embedded in sidewalks outside homes where Holocaust victims once lived. These stones serve as a somber reminder of the residents who were forcibly taken and murdered by the Nazis. Tour guides frequently include these poignant memorials in European Jewish heritage tours, offering visitors a glimpse into the lives tragically cut short.

My First Encounter with Stolpersteine

I first encountered the Stolpersteine project by chance about 15 years ago during a stay in Berlin. The rabbi of the Lev Tov community asked me to join a minyan for a Kaddish ceremony that would take place on the street. I couldn't understand what kind of ceremony he was referring to. When we arrived, we saw an elderly man kneeling by a hole in the sidewalk, filling it with a yellow stone inscribed in German, and embedding it.

I remember being struck by how gently he brushed away the leftover cement and dust and lovingly wiped the stone, as a mother would clean her child's face. When he finished, Rabbi Chaim Rozovsky recited Kaddish, despite there not being even half a minyan.

That man named Gunter Deming, the project's founder.

The Vision Behind Stolpersteine

Gunter Demnig, a German artist now in his 70s, started this initiative in 1992 to honor his parents' Jewish neighbors, Rosa and Sally Rosenthal, who were murdered during the Holocaust. Inspired by their story, he created a modest memorial—brass-covered stones engraved with the victims' names, dates, and fates—and placed them outside their former home.

This took place 32 years ago, in 1992, as a small, personal gesture.

The Initial Backlash and Public Debate

What began as a personal act of remembrance quickly ignited controversy. Some local neo-Natzis protested, claiming the stones were a tripping hazard or violated public property laws.

They claimed Gunter needed a “building permit” for such work in public spaces. Protesters argued the stones posed a “tripping hazard,”  Legal advisors for the opposition even demanded Gunter face criminal charges for “damaging public property” and “illegal construction.”

However, these objections led to a broader discussion about Holocaust memory in Germany. Eventually, the issue was brought to the Cologne city council, where elected representatives debated the matter. The council decided to honor the majority's opinion and reject the opposition's demands to remove the stones. Moreover, the city commissioned Gunter to produce more Stolpersteine at public expense.

The city's education department launched a research project involving high school students, who were tasked with investigating the Holocaust victims who lived near their schools or families. Students were encouraged to ask their parents and grandparents about Jewish neighbors and document their stories. After verification by historians, the city ordered 160 more Stolpersteine, which were installed by students, their parents, and municipal workers.

A Global Movement

Today, Stolpersteine have been installed in over 2,000 cities across Europe, with more than 75,000 memorial stones commemorating Holocaust victims. Each stone tells a personal story, ensuring the Holocaust remains a tangible part of everyday life.

How to Participate in the Stolpersteine Project

If you want to memorialize Holocaust victims from your family, you can collaborate with the Stolpersteine team. Gunter Deming and his partner, Uta Franke, accept submissions documenting the victim's residence, birth year, date of deportation, and place of death. Contact them via email at inschriften@stolpersteine.eu to begin the process.

Why Stolpersteine Matter

Unlike centralized memorials, Stolpersteine are scattered across cities and towns, making Holocaust memory unavoidable and personal. Whether you encounter a single stone or a cluster, each one prompts reflection on the devastating loss of life and humanity.

This Tenth of Tevet, as we remember the Holocaust, let us honor the victims through projects like Stolpersteine, ensuring their stories live on for generations to come.