In the face of rising antisemitism around the world and the number of Holocaust survivors steadily decreasing, Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, is stepping up efforts to preserve Holocaust memorabilia. Part of the massive repository of Holocaust-related artifacts had been scattered around Yad Vashem’s vast campus, but now they will be housed in the new David and Fela Shapell Family Collections Center, which opened last month, housing the artifacts in a protected space to allow easier access for researchers and provide the most advanced technological conditions to safeguard them for future generations. More than 150 staff members will work at the site, gathering the names of victims and artifacts, and conserving and cataloging the objects.

“We are approaching a watershed moment in Holocaust remembrance,” said Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem. “We are entering the post-survivor era where we are going to be the messengers.”