Museum#6

Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial

יד ושם

Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Set on the western slope of Mount Herzl, the 45-acre campus includes the Museum of Holocaust History, the Children's Memorial, the Hall of Remembrance, and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations. The main museum, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, is a 180-meter-long triangular prism cut through the mountain, with galleries on both sides telling the story of the Holocaust chronologically through personal artifacts, survivor testimonies, photographs, and film footage. The exit opens onto a balcony with a sweeping view of the Jerusalem hills — a powerful symbol of survival and renewal.

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David Shankbone (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Don't Miss

Walk through the Museum of Holocaust History — a deeply personal narrative experience
Visit the Children's Memorial — candles reflected endlessly in a dark chamber
See the Hall of Names, containing Pages of Testimony for millions of victims
Walk the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, honoring non-Jews who saved Jews
Stand in the Hall of Remembrance where an eternal flame burns

The Museum Experience

The Museum of Holocaust History tells the story of the Shoah from the Jewish perspective, focusing on individual experiences. The narrative begins with pre-war Jewish life — vibrant communities in Europe — and progresses through the rise of Nazism, ghettos, deportations, concentration camps, and death marches. Each gallery uses personal items, letters, diaries, shoes, suitcases, and video testimonies to make the incomprehensible scale of the tragedy feel deeply human. The museum avoids graphic imagery where possible, instead relying on personal stories to convey the horror. Allow at least 2-3 hours; many visitors find they need more.

The Children's Memorial

The Children's Memorial is perhaps the most emotionally powerful space at Yad Vashem. Dedicated to the approximately 1.5 million Jewish children murdered in the Holocaust, it is a dark underground cavern where five candles are reflected infinitely by hundreds of mirrors, creating the illusion of millions of flickering lights in every direction. As you walk through the darkness, a recorded voice continuously reads the names, ages, and countries of origin of murdered children. The effect is devastating and unforgettable — each point of light representing a life extinguished. Many visitors describe it as the most moving experience of their time in Israel.