Repairing Holocaust Memorial Fountain, Once Again

The news is shocking and very painful - our beautiful Holocaust Memorial Fountain at the Santa Rosa cemetery was vandalized for the second time on January 7, 2022. Please donate generously to help in repairs or replacement of the fountain and installation of proper surveillance systems.

The Memorial comprises three walls that showcase ceramic tiles that identify individual family members of local North Bay residents who were murdered and then cremated or buried in mass unmarked pits without a trace or a gravestone to remember them. Initially, the Memorial was completed in 2016 in honor of Lillian and Emil Judd, two beloved members of Sonoma County community who survived the Holocaust. Today the Memorial is a holy place where all members of the community can come and ponder and remember. The Memorial Fountain is used as a place for prayers and washing of hands when leaving the cemetery as is customary in Jewish traditions.

When the Memorial Fountain was pushed over and broken apart on January 7, 2022, there was even more damage than the previous destruction caused by vandalism in 2020.

Then , with help from members of the entire community, funds were raised through Go Fund Me and the the Fountain was repaired by a professional monument company that used a royal blue colored bonding material to show how the community came together to stand up against the hatred and disrespect that motivated the vandals.

Additionally, we had a special rededication of the Holocaust Memorial Fountain that included many different religious leaders of the community. Funds were also used to support educating the community about the Holocaust and other Genocides by Survivors and Second Generation volunteers who gave presentations through the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide at Sonoma State University and The Stories Project.

Now again, we are looking for the community to stand together, united in friendship and support for each other, to repair or replace the Memorial Fountain, and to provide for more surveillance and security at the Holocaust Memorial.

Let's use this as an opportunity to demonstrate that our community is united and does not accept the evil hatred that leads up to this type of destruction. Together, we can make a difference.