Surely you have an opinion about this sculpture. The sculpture before you is called Murmelstein. It is the work of artist Sebastian Hempel.
But who was the real Benjamin Murmelstein? He was an Austrian rabbi born in 1905. Murmelstein became a key figure in Vienna’s Jewish community. This was during the rise of Nazi Germany.
By late 1939, he was the only community rabbi left in Vienna. Murmelstein helped many Jews emigrate. However, he later faced accusations of being a Nazi collaborator.
After Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany, Murmelstein worked with Adolf Eichmann. He helped implement policies to remove Jews. In 1943, Murmelstein was interned in Theresienstadt concentration camp. This camp was a former Czechoslovakian fortress.
Theresienstadt was presented as a “model ghetto”. But it was a deceptive lie. Murmelstein became an “Elder” in the camp. He was the only “Judenältester” to survive the Holocaust.
During his time, Murmelstein was involved in superficial renovations. These were used in propaganda films. The films hid the camp’s true nature from the Red Cross.
Fellow prisoners reviled him. They nicknamed him “Murmelschwein”. This combined his name with the word for “pig”. Murmelstein was known for implementing Nazi policies ruthlessly.
After liberation, Murmelstein was detained by the Czechoslovak government. He was suspected of collaboration. Though released, his reputation remained tarnished. The Roman Jewish community rejected him.
In his final years, Murmelstein tried to restore his image. He published a memoir. He also volunteered to testify at Eichmann’s trial. Claude Lanzmann interviewed him in 1975. These interviews formed the basis of a 2013 documentary. It was titled “The Last of the Unjust”.
The film sparked debate about Murmelstein’s role. Some praised its exploration of moral complexities. Others criticized it for portraying him positively. Some found factual inaccuracies.
Some compare Murmelstein to Josephus Flavius. Flavius was a Jewish historian who was seen as a traitor. Murmelstein saw his own actions as doing the best he could. He was in an impossible situation. Despite the controversies, Murmelstein saved many lives. He chose to stay in Vienna. He could have fled before 1941.
So, what do you make of the story of Murmelstein? What do you think of Sebastian Hempel’s tribute to this controversial figure?