Yad Vashem’s Aussie space
WITH an expansion of the Memorial Cave being undertaken at Yad Vashem, the Israeli centre’s Australian support organisation has taken the initiative to secure a dedicated space for Australian Jews to consecrate the memories of loved ones affected by the Holocaust.
WITH an expansion of the Memorial Cave being undertaken at Yad Vashem, the Israeli centre’s Australian support organisation has taken the initiative to secure a dedicated space for Australian Jews to consecrate the memories of loved ones affected by the Holocaust.
The cave offers survivors, relatives and friends of those who survived or perished during the Shoah a way to commemorate individuals and communities.
The special Australian section is the first dedicated to a specific country, according to Australian Friends of Yad Vashem (AFYV) president Johnny Baker.
“We believe this is a project that will resonate very strongly with the Australian Jewish community, given its unique characteristics as a survivor community,” he told The AJN.
“We’re the first community to take a section of the cave that is specifically dedicated to the members of a community,” he said. “That is at the initiative of the Australian Friends of Yad Vashem.”
To date, more than 1000 memorial plaques have been dedicated to individual survivors, to victims, to entire communities, to families and to groups, at the cave – a contemplative space on the grounds of the Holocaust memorial overlooking the hills of Jerusalem.
Yad Vashem is expanding the current cave to provide an additional 90 square metres of commemorative space and an extra entrance.
AFYV has set aside a wall within the expanded cave.
Plaques will be of a uniform size, 30 x 30 centimetres, and can be dedicated with a donation of $1800.
For further information, email jonbak@optusnet.com.au
PETER KOHN
Yad Vashem.
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