Yad Vashem, located on Mount Herzl and as a part of the national memorial, serves as Israel’s official museum dedicated to the Holocaust. Established in 1953, it arose from a need to honor the memory of the six million Jews murdered during World War II. The name itself, “Yad Vashem,” is a Hebrew phrase meaning “a monument and a name,” referencing a Biblical promise of remembrance for those without descendants.

The vast complex encompasses memorials, sculptures, and artwork, many created by holocaust survivors themselves. Within the museum, visitors encounter powerful exhibitions. Personal video testimonies, alongside authentic artifacts, documents, and photographs, offer a glimpse into the experiences of those affected by the Holocaust.

A poignant memorial, the Hall of Remembrance, houses an eternal flame and an ash casket from the death camps. The Children’s Memorial honors the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished. The Valley of the Communities commemorates the over 5,000 Jewish communities destroyed during the Holocaust. Visitors can delve deeper through computerized information available at the museum.

The Hall of Names offers a particularly moving experience. Envisioned as two large cones, one rising above ground and the other mirroring it underground, they hold photos and “Pages of Testimony” submitted for victims. After navigating the emotionally charged museum, visitors exit onto a balcony overlooking the Jerusalem Forest,  symbolizing the hope for a brighter future, emerging from the darkness of the Holocaust.