P"N YISRAEL--HERE LIES ISRAEL
Having seen the Hebrew word “P"N” on monuments at every Jewish cemetery, I finally asked my rabbi what it means. “Here Lies Buried (Poh Nikbar)”… was the simple answer. Male or female, young or old, all tombstones say “Here Lies Buried.” The Hebrew lettering on this work simply says: P"N Yisrael... ....Here Lies Israel! Here Lies the Jewish People.
Early on in this painting, I decided to leave three figures in each of the six panels lighter than the other thirty five figures. That would leave eighteen light figures; the Jewish number "Chai" means eighteen and translates as “Life.” Amidst all the death and horror the Jewish people did manage to survive.
