There are no graves for many of the Jews who were killed during World War II. Holocaust memorials have been created all over the world as a dedicated sacred place to honor their memory. The incorporation of a smoke stack as part of the design for the memorial can be interpreted as a statement that while it’s true that many Jews were burned, as a religion, culture and people, Jews were not consumed.
As survivors of the Holocaust, William and Helen Jacobs felt an obligation to make sure that the fate of Jews who perished in the war will always be remembered. They, particularity William Jacobs, were instrumental in having the Holocaust Memorial created. Built by Brock Masonry it was dedicated on May 3, 1981. Brock Masonry later upgraded the memorial to include the ramp. Master stonemason Syd Fry led the construction of the memorial, which was dedicated on May 3, 1981. Brock Masonry later upgraded the memorial to include the ramp.
As far as we can tell, this is one of the oldest Holocaust memorials in Canada, and it is used yearly on Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) as the site of a community remembrance ceremony.
Rabbi Reinstein leads a Yom Ha’shoah commemoration at the Victoria Jewish Cemetery; April 1988. Willie Jacobs is centre with his back to the camera; Kurt Weiss is to his left and on his right with kerchief is Jannushka Jakoubovitch and her children, Joshua and Kalina. David Katz (with beard) is in profile on the left, and next to him is Rysia Kraskin. Horst Rothfels is standing behind David wearing a newsboy cap. The woman facing the camera is Kathy Bennett, a long-time Hebrew School teacher. Richard Kool, with his son David, is wearing a fedora.
The Jewish Cemetery of Victoria, British Columbia 