In a moving expression of memory, creativity, and community, middle school students from across Nashville’s Jewish congregations came together in April to create more than 30 butterfly mosaics that will become part of the Nashville Holocaust Memorial.
Students from The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom, Congregation Micah, and West End Synagogue worked side by side, each contributing individual pieces to a larger collective work of art. What emerged was more than mosaics, it was a shared act of remembrance and connection.
Each butterfly, carefully designed with colorful glass tiles, reflects the creativity and intention of the student who made it. No two are alike, some bold and bright, others carefully patterned—but together they form a powerful visual statement about memory, individuality, and community.
Each piece also carries a name. Every butterfly was created in memory or in honor of someone with a connection to Nashville who was touched by the horrors of the Holocaust. Their names are written on the back of each butterfly, quietly, intentionally, ensuring that behind every work of art is a real person, a real story, and a lasting act of remembrance.
The butterfly, long a symbol associated with Holocaust memory, especially the lives of children who were lost, served as the centerpiece of the project. Inspired in part by the poem “The Butterfly,” written by Pavel Friedmann in a concentration camp, the imagery offers a way to engage with difficult history through beauty, reflection, and meaning.
“As one child remarks in a poem, he wishes he was like the butterfly, so he could fly away and be free of the pain and suffering,” said seventh grader Rebecca Reiter. “This story inspired me and my community to make butterfly mosaics to honor the stories of the survivors. This particularly touched me, making me feel connected to my heritage, as I could have been one in that situation if this took place at a different time.”
The project was led by artist Michelle Trachtman, whose vision and thoughtful guidance helped bring both artistic excellence and emotional depth to the experience. Through her talents, students came to understand that their work was not only creative, but purposeful.
“As a local mosaic artist, I’m always drawn to opportunities where art can tell a deeper story, and this immediately spoke to me,” Trachtman said. “The idea of creating a butterfly for the Holocaust Memorial felt incredibly powerful. It was an opportunity to help bring history to life in a tangible and lasting way through art, and I felt deeply connected to that purpose.”
A particularly meaningful part of the program included personal storytelling shared by community members Felicia Anchor, Marsha Raimi, Alex Limor, and Delilah Cohn. Their voices grounded the experience, helping students connect history to lived experience and reminding all present that memory is carried through people as much as through places.
Teachers and volunteers, including Anne Ginsburg and Bekah Near, supported students throughout the process, helping them navigate both the artistic work and the emotional weight of the subject matter. Educators from each congregation worked together to create a space where students could reflect, ask questions, and engage deeply.
“This was not just an art project,” said Rabbi Michael Shulman of The Temple. “It was an opportunity for our students to understand that remembrance is something we build together. Each butterfly holds a name, a memory, and a responsibility.”
The collaboration itself was a powerful statement. Bringing together students from multiple congregations reflected the strength of Nashville’s Jewish community and its shared commitment to honoring memory and educating the next generation.
“These butterflies mean a lot to me because I lost family in the Holocaust and feel very connected to the stories, alongside other survivors’ stories,” said seventh grader Marin Arnold. “They symbolize hope and the souls of people who unfortunately didn’t survive, which is beautiful.”
The project was made possible through the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, whose grant funding helped turn vision into reality.
When installed, the butterfly mosaics will become part of the Nashville Holocaust Memorial at the Gordon JCC offering a space for reflection, remembrance, and education for years to come.
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