Yad Vashem

יד ושם

A national memorial to the roughly 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Its architecture and exhibitions are deeply moving, and the Hall of Names holds the names and life records of the victims.

Yad Vashem stands on the memorial hill beside Mount Herzl in western Jerusalem. Established in 1953, it is one of the most important Holocaust research and commemoration institutions in the world. The main Holocaust History Museum, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, is a triangular corridor that runs through the mountain. Visitors follow a zigzag route through ten galleries, learning in chronological order about the Nazi rise to power, life in the ghettos, the camps and extermination camps, resistance and liberation. The exhibits include personal belongings, films and survivor testimony. At the end of the route is the Hall of Names, whose cone-shaped dome is covered with photographs of victims, while surrounding bookshelves hold millions of victim files. When you leave the corridor, the view opens onto a panorama of the Jerusalem hills. The grounds also include the Children's Memorial, which honors about 1.5 million children through mirrors and candlelight; the Valley of the Communities, where the names of thousands of Jewish communities destroyed in the Holocaust are carved into the rock; and the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations, which honors non-Jews who risked their lives to rescue Jews during World War II, including Chinese diplomat Ho Feng-shan. Admission is free. Chinese-language audio guides are paid, so check the official website for details. Children under 10 are not recommended for the History Museum. Take the Red Line light rail to Mount Herzl station, then transfer to a free shuttle or walk about 15 minutes.

Opening hours

Sun–Thu approx. 09:00–17:00; Fri approx. 09:00–14:00; closed Saturdays and holidays (check official website)

History · Memorial hall · World War II

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