Obj. ID: 47084
Modern Jewish Art  Yad Vashem Memorial Light in Forest Hills Jewish Center, Queens, NY, USA

To the main object: Forest Hills Jewish Center, Queens, NY, USA

Name:

Yad Vashem Memorial Light

Who is Commemorated

The six million Jews, who were “tortured, mutilated and burned in the European Holocaust.”

Description:

The menorah is located on the upper level of the entrance foyer to the Jewish Center, in front of the original main entrance to the sanctuary.

It is designed as a central trunk rising from a widened tripod base. At a low part, a horizontal metal shelf supports a sculpted lion. Above this, the trunk branches out with six branches of unequal size and shape that curve upward. Near the top, the trunk splits into two, leading to two more small branches.  Every branch ends in a circular bowl in which is set a flame-shaped electric bulb.

A rectangular bronze donor plaque is affixed flat on a rectangular block on which the menorah stands. 

Inscriptions

On a framed plaque mounted on the wall behind the memorial:

"יד ושם, ונתתי להם בביתי ובחומתי"
And I Will give Them In My House And Within My Walls A monument And A Memorial” Isaiah 56:5"

This memorial light, symbolizing with its six branches
in mounting flames the six million Jewish Martyrs, was designed by
Z. Schatz of the Bezalel Art Academy in Jerusalem.

It won in a world-wide contest for a proper, recognized
Memorial Light. The contest was instituted by the Yad Vashem
(Monument and Memorial) Authority in Jerusalem, formed jointly
by the Israeli Government and the Jewish Agency for Israel, to per-
petuate the memory of our six million brethren tortured, mutilated
and burned in the European Holocaust, during the Second World War.

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel and other central Jewish
bodies have urged placing the Yad Vashem Memorial light in every
Synagogue, Jewish home, school, Center and all institutions,
to be kindled on the 27th of Nissan, the National Yahrzeit for the
six million Martyrs; On the 10th of Tevet, the Yahrzeit of those Martyrs
whose day of doom is unknown and on days when Yiskor is recited
and whenever a Yahrzeit is observed.

YAD VASHEM MEMORIAL LIGHT is made in Israel, produced exclusively for the Yad Vashem Authority, Har Hazikaron, Jerusalem

On bronze plaque attached to the base:

Presented to the
Forest Hills Jewish Center
by
Mr. and Mrs. Boris Heller
in honor of their
50th wedding anniversary
January 12th, 1963

Commissioned by

Yad Vashem (Monument and Memorial) Authority

Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Boris Heller