Children's Memorial Garden
More than a decade ago, several households within our larger Temple Kol Emeth community suffered the tragic and untimely loss of children. Responding to their needs and to memorialize their children and commemorate the children lost in the Holocaust, TKE commenced the planning of a Children’s Memorial Garden. Designs were drawn up, funds were raised and the Garden began to take shape on the front lawn of the Doc Lebow Center. Over time, however, the Garden laid fallow.
In 2015, several members of the synagogue, including some of the original families, rekindled the Children’s Memorial Garden. Landscape design and construction firms were consulted and a proposal was brought before the Board of Trustees, which approved the creation of a new fundraising effort and the completion of the Children’s Memorial Garden.
Since then, construction has recommenced, and several phases have been completed, allowing the Garden to serve many purposes for our congregation. It contains seating areas for reflection and remembrance, a sculpture and water feature, and engraved pavers. There is also an amphitheater for youth and adult services, life cycle events, speakers, religious school classes and more. We have received many generous donations to help us with the project.
Our sponsorship efforts continue to generate donations, and there are still many opportunities to help finance this worthy cause, both large and small. The inscribed brick program allows congregants and others to permanently signify their support and honor or memorialize loved ones.
There are several links on this page, including a brochure about the Garden at the top of the page and a form to order a brick below.
Please join us in creating an everlasting memory for the children TKE has lost and the children of the Holocaust. If you have questions about the Children’s Memorial Garden or want to donate to help our efforts, please contact Michael Shapiro at mbshapir@bellsouth.net.
To order a brick, click here.
To become a sponsor, click here.
For a full rendering of the garden, click here.
