
Yad Vashem Artifacts Collection
Courtesy of Hana Goldstein, Shimon Gonen (Goldstein) & Zvi Leibovich, Israel & USA







Sunday to Thursday: 09:00-17:00
Fridays and Holiday eves: 09:00-14:00
Yad Vashem is closed on Saturdays and all Jewish Holidays.
Entrance to the Holocaust History Museum is not permitted for children under the age of 10. Babies in strollers or carriers will not be permitted to enter.
Yad Vashem Artifacts Collection
Courtesy of Hana Goldstein, Shimon Gonen (Goldstein) & Zvi Leibovich, Israel & USA
The Torah pointer was part of a collection of diamond-studded gold Judaica items created for the Shtefanesht hasidic dynasty. Following the death of Rabbi Avraham Mattisyahu Friedman, the last Admor (spiritual leader) of the dynasty, a relative came from Vienna to claim her inheritance.
While traveling home she had to sell some of the items, including the Torah pointer, in order to pay off Romanian customs officials. They were bought by a wealthy member of the Ștefănești community, Leon Goldstein. On the eve of World War II, Goldstein made sure that the precious items were well hidden.
Tragically, Leon Goldstein was murdered in June 1941 on one of the "death trains" that left Iaşi. His wife Hana and two children, Melvina and Shimon, survived the Holocaust in hiding, immigrated to Israel and worked to bring the Torah pointer there. In 2018, Leon's son Shimon Gonen (Goldstein) and his grandson Zvi Leibovich decided to donate this unique and valuable Torah pointer to Yad Vashem.
Yad Vashem Artifacts Collection
Courtesy of Hana Goldstein, Shimon Gonen (Goldstein) & Zvi Leibovich, Israel & USA
Thank you for registering to receive information from Yad Vashem.
You will receive periodic updates regarding recent events, publications and new initiatives.
"The work of Yad Vashem is critical and necessary to remind the world of the consequences of hate"
Paul Daly
#GivingTuesday
Donate to Educate Against Hate
Worldwide antisemitism is on the rise.
At Yad Vashem, we strive to make the world a better place by combating antisemitism through teacher training, international lectures and workshops and online courses.
We need you to partner with us in this vital mission to #EducateAgainstHate
The good news:
The Yad Vashem website had recently undergone a major upgrade!
The less good news:
The page you are looking for has apparently been moved.
We are therefore redirecting you to what we hope will be a useful landing page.
For any questions/clarifications/problems, please contact: webmaster@yadvashem.org.il
Press the X button to continue