May 7th, 2019 – “The Menorah Project”, an initiative of Christians of different ages and backgrounds from Switzerland, Germany and Holland, has been completed today as the 120 kg Temple Menorah replica was handed over back to Israel in a symbolic return ceremony at Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem. Helping Hand Coalition for Israel (עמותת יד לעזרה ישראל) was privileged and honored to organize this event with these dear Christians who made such a remarkable gift to the State of Israel in the week of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Memorial Day and Israeli 71st Independence Day.

A group of 11 people worked on the project that culminated in this event for one and a half years. The funds for the Menorah project were donated by private donors, and the replica was created in Germany and then taken to Rome in April this year. It was important to the initiators and supporters of this project not only to recreate the exact lamp-stand to the smallest details, including its broken branches, but for the Menorah to retrace its way back to Israel in the same manner in which it was taken to Rome in 70 AD by the Roman conquerors.

The Menorah was hand-carried into the venue of the event, where it was symbolically presented to the Jewish population of Israel by Knesset Member Oded Sorer, and Chairman of Helping Hand Coalition for Israel Dr. Andre Gasiorowski. Many Holocaust survivors and WWII veterans were present to witness the solemn ceremony and to represent the Jewish population.

A further event is being planned to take place in the next few months at the Knesset, where the Menorah will be presented to the Knesset members. It is hoped that this act of goodwill and support towards Israel will inspire and prompt other countries in Europe to find new ways of building relationships with the State of Israel.

Watch: The Menorah Project comes to Israel