The Shalom Baruch Jewish Cemetery in Houston has inaugurated the first permanent North American memorial commemorating the events of October 7. The memorial, initiated by cemetery owners Verda and Jess Fields, is open to the public during regular visiting hours and is intended to become a place of remembrance and reflection for the Jewish community and visitors from across the continent.
The 3.6-meter, or 12-foot, monument was designed by artists Anat Ronen, Kristen Coco and Yonatan Dror. At its center is a Star of David rising from the ground to symbolize resilience, Jewish identity and collective memory. An adjacent sculpture representing the hostages was created by Israeli artist Yaron Bob and made from metal fragments of Iranian missiles intercepted over Israel. Bob is known for works given to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by U.S. President Donald Trump and for the menorah he designed for President Barack Obama in 2014.
About 250 people attended the dedication ceremony, including government officials, clergy and community members. Verda Fields, an Israeli American and the driving force behind the initiative, delivered emotional remarks.
“Houston’s Jewish community and our many allies came here to stand with us,” she said. “I hope they will continue to raise their voices against antisemitism, support the Jewish people, and inspire others across the nation and the world to establish similar memorials, so that we never forget what happened on October 7 and what followed.”
Omer Shem-Tov, who was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and held in Gaza for 505 days, also addressed the crowd. The Fields family presented him with the Lone Star of Israel Award, an annual honor recognizing individuals who demonstrate spiritual resilience and courage.
Attendees were invited to leave written notes in the cemetery’s “Western Wall.” The notes will be taken to the Kotel in Jerusalem during Verda Fields’ upcoming trip to Israel. Participants also received remembrance stones created by adult artists with disabilities through the Alexander JFS Celebration Company program. The stones will be placed at the foot of the memorial in keeping with Jewish tradition.
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Omer Shem-Tov was presented with the Lone Star of Israel Award
(Photo: Chuck Thompson)
Shalom Baruch Cemetery was established to provide the Houston Jewish community with a place grounded in dignity, compassion and heritage. The new memorial is the first of its kind in North America and is intended to stand as a testament to the Jewish people’s ability to seek light in the aftermath of tragedy.