Children's Memorial, Yad Vashem, Memorial building at Yad Vashem, Israel
The Children's Memorial is an underground chamber with an octagonal room where a single candle is reflected through mirror systems to create infinite light patterns. Semi-reflective glass panels on the walls, floors, and ceilings multiply this candlelight into countless points of illumination.
The memorial opened in 1987 based on an architectural design by Moshe Safdie. It was created to honor the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished during the Holocaust.
The space holds deep meaning for visitors who pause to listen as names of deceased children are continuously read aloud throughout the day. This practice honors each individual child and makes their memory felt in a personal, direct way.
Entry is through a natural rock archway that leads to a ramp descending into the underground chamber. Plan time to spend quietly inside as names are read continuously throughout the visit.
The memorial features a continuous audio recording that reads the names, ages, and origins of each child, with the complete list taking approximately three months to play through entirely. This extended timeline gives visitors a sense of the vast number of lives lost.
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