Holocaust Memorial in Bardejov, located next to the Jewish quarter, is a sacred place commemorating the Jewish community that once thrived here but was destroyed during the Holocaust. It is a symbol of the fragility of freedom and human life. It also serves as an educational site that helps visitors understand the fate of the Jews of Bardejov and motivates future generations to stand up against hatred and injustice.

The monument was built The Committee for the Protection of Jewish Heritage in Bardejov, a non-profit organization founded by Mr. Emil Fish in 2006 with the aim of documenting Jewish history, preserving cultural heritage and honoring the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. The owner and administrator of the memorial is city of BardejovConstruction began in 2013 and the monument was ceremonially unveiled June 24, 2014 in the presence of over 450 people, including local residents, distinguished guests and visitors from around the world.

The monument was designed by a renowned architect Giora Solar, while the building architect was Miloslav OlejarThe dominant ones are 14 large granite slabs in the shape of tombstoneson which the names are engraved 3,392 Holocaust victims from Bardejov and surrounding villages. The family names are listed alphabetically in order: father, mother, children and other relatives who died. Two of the boards remained partially empty – they are reserved for about 900 other names, which may be confirmed in the future.

At the top of each board is the name of one of 12 Hebrew tribes, symbolizing the Jewish people. Two panels also contain lighting, which represents eternal light in the synagogue (Hebrew: Ner Tamid) and memorial candle (Hebrew: Ner Neshama)which Jews traditionally light on the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

Exterior wall The memorial, facing Dlhý rad Street, commemorates the houses in which Jewish families lived before the deportations. These buildings were later demolished during the communist regime. Above the plaques with the names of the victims is a quote "Every person has their own name", taken from a poem by an Israeli poet Zelda Schneersohn-MishkovskayaThe text is written in three languages as a reminder that behind every name was a real person, not just a number in a statistic.

One of the most significant elements of the monument is Star of David, located in front of the last original wall of the Jewish Quarter. The star is composed of two triangles – the lower part is made of local stone and contains a steel plaque with the inscription "Never again"The entire monument is located on original railway tracks, which symbolize the deportations of Jews from the Bardejov railway station to concentration camps, from where most of them never returned.

Five smaller panels bring closer history of the Bardejov Jewish community, its rich heritage and tragic fate during the Holocaust. One of the panels is dedicated to The righteous among the nations – to the people of Bardejov who risked their lives to help Jews during the war. Another plaque expresses gratitude major donorwho supported the construction of the monument.

Holocaust Memorial is a place of remembrance for the once large Jewish community of Bardejov. It is not only a symbol of the victims, but also an important educational center that is intended to inspire future generations. Together with the Jewish suburb, it will serve as museum and educational center.