This incredible work of art is located in the center of an area known as the Matryrs Forest, which is on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Comprised of six million trees, the Martyrs Forest is probably the largest memorial to the Holocaust in the world. Four and half million pine trees symbolize the adults who died in the Holocaust while another one and a half million cypress trees represent the children.
The Scroll of Fire was sculpted by Nathan Rapoport. It is comprised of two pillars. The scroll on the right focuses on the holocaust and its survivors while the scroll on the left deals with the struggle to establish a new homeland. The artwork has a number of recurring elements: mother and child, an olive tree/branch, a menorah and much symbolism. With incredible detail, Rapoport depicts the somber events of the concentration camps and death marches, the strength and rebellion of the Warsaw Ghetto, the plight of the Jews pioneers reviving the Jewish homeland, as well as Israeli soldiers fighting for the nation's freedom.
When interviewed about this sculpture, the artist conveyed his belief that art helps to tell the story of a nation's past - it helps preserve it's history. A plaque near the base of the sculpture reads: “My words have been made of bronze and stone, they are silent, heavy and longstanding.” Nathan Rapoport.
I definitely plan to visit this area. I think that an entire forest dedicated to all those that died in the Holocaust is an incredible memorial. I also think that when an artist creates such a detailed sculpture - photographs can never do it justice. Instead, it deserves to be seen and appreciated up close and personal.
