December 2022 Portrait of the Month — Benjamin Cukierman

Benjamin Cukierman

December’s Portrait of the Month features Benjamin (Binim) Cukierman — it was created by artist Randi at a workshop at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.

Binim's family were bakers and were known many towns over for their cakes. When Binim was married, he and his wife opened a chocolate shop whose chocolates were famous in Poland. Sadly, their reputation could not save them from the fate of Jews all around Poland and Europe. Binim's family were rounded up and split between Markstadt concentration camp and Auschwitz, with only his nephew Cvi and his wife Edzina surviving.

Students around the world have connected with Binim and reflected on their experience of drawing his portrait:

“It felt almost like I was building a portrait of him while he was in the room.”
—Jonathan J.

“I felt like I could really relate to the person.”
—Devin W.

“It felt like I was paying tribute to the people when I was reading the passage and when I was drawing it felt like I was writing history.”
—Makayla F.