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TIOH Art Tour: Holocaust Memorial Menorah 

  • By Moshe Zabari 
  • Israel, early 1990s 
  • Sterling silver  
  • Six petal-shaped with flared branches on a circular base 
  • Commissioned from the artist. 

In the early 1990s, Temple Israel of Hollywood commissioned the creation of this original Holocaust Memorial candelabra for our annual Yom Hashoah commemoration in memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. It was designed and crafted by the noted Israeli silversmith, Moshe Zabari, and is comprised of a lyrical and flowing group of six arms holding candles with a removable shamash (center holder). The arms rise out of the base in the form of a tear drop on which is written in silver relief the Hebrew word zachor (Remember). 

Moshe Zabari, born in Jerusalem in 1935, is known for his silver Judaica. He studied art under Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert and David Gumbel, two of the most important silversmith’s in Israel at the time, at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem beginning at age 13. Zabari was appointed artist-in-residence for almost three decades at New York’s Jewish Museum, during which time he created a wide range of Judaica including Torah arks, candelabra and menorahs. In the 1980s, Zabari returned to Israel. He continued to create Judaica objects, but he also began to explore other media, such as sculpture and painting. He has exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions in Israel and around the world. 

Zabari is considered one of the most important Judaica artists of the 20th century. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Jesselson Prize for Contemporary Judaica Design in 1990. He was also awarded the Israel Prize in 2008 for his contributions to Israeli art. 

Zabari’s work is characterized by its modernist approach. He often uses simple geometric shapes and clean lines in his designs. He also often incorporates Jewish symbols and motifs into his work. His pieces are included in the collections of major museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Israel Museum. 

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