Inscribed with the words “Our Strength Is Our Heritage, Our Heritage Is Our Life” this mural at 232 East Broadway east of Clinton Street depicted major events in Jewish history over the course of a century, including the exodus from Europe, the rise of the labor movement on the Lower East Side, the Holocaust, the founding of the state of Israel and the plight of Soviet Jews against the backdrop of religious observances.
The masthead of The Forward was shown on the left and the symbol of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union was in the center.
The mural was created in 1972 by a group of teenage artists under the auspices of CITYarts, some of whom were children of Holocaust survivors. Some of the artists are pictured on the right.
The building and its neighbor, the former Bialystoker Nursing Home at 228 East Broadway, have been acquired by The Ascend Group for a possible conversion to luxury apartments. 228 has Landmarks Preservation Commission protection and its exterior will not be heavily altered, but the developers’ mark has already been made at 232, where the mural has been painted over.
11/9/16