A unique audio bench commemorating the testimony of Holocaust survivor Chaim Ferster was destroyed and thrown into a frozen lake at Claus Park in Salford, northern England, on Wednesday.
Ferster, known for his remarkable life story after surviving eight Nazi death camps during World War II, moved to Manchester after the war and dedicated many years of his life to an impressive educational mission. He died in 2017 at age 94.
A bench with a message
Salford City Council erected the special audio bench in 2019 and placed it along the daily walking route Ferster used to take, as a way to commemorate his memory and preserve his wartime experiences. The bench allowed visitors to sit and listen to the Holocaust survivor's personal testimony in his own voice.
On Wednesday, the bench was discovered brutally vandalized – smashed to pieces, the audio system torn out, and the fragments thrown into the frozen lake waters.
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In loving memory of Chaim Ferster who survived the unspeakable horrors of 8 Nazi concentration and death camps… pic.twitter.com/1vCWmSudZU
— NW Friends of Israel (@NorthWestFOI) January 7, 2026
Mark Ferster, Chaim's grandson, published a post about the incident and wrote, "Seeing it vandalised is painful, not because of the physical damage but because of what it represents. It is a stark reminder that antisemitism is not confined to history books or memorial days. It is present, it is real, and it is increasingly finding expression within our society."
Mark added, "This post is not about politics. It is not about assigning blame or seeking attention. It is about calling out something that should concern all of us, regardless of background or belief. When acts of hatred are ignored, minimised, or normalised, they do not remain isolated."
Police have opened an investigation into the incident as a hate crime.
