A monument of light forged from war
The Menorah of Hope is a large scale sculptural installation by Israeli artist Eli Gross. Created from missile fragments launched at Israel during the Iron Swords War, the Menorah was first installed in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv in December 2024 and rapidly became one of the defining visual symbols of the period.
Constructed from remnants of missiles fired from Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon, alongside components of Iron Dome interceptors, the material of the Menorah originates in instruments designed for destruction. Weapons intended to extinguish life are reconfigured into a structure dedicated to illumination, faith, and continuity.
The Menorah stands nearly two meters tall and weighs approximately half a ton. During Hanukkah 5785, thousands of visitors tied yellow ribbons around its branches as a gesture of solidarity and prayer for the return of the hostages. Later, white ribbons were added to mark the joy of those who returned alive.
For many visitors, the Menorah became a space where confrontation with loss coexisted with an insistence on light. During one of the most difficult chapters in the country's history, it offered a visible language of resilience.
Personal history as artistic foundation
The Menorah of Hope is inseparable from the biography of its creator. Eli Gross was born into a Hasidic family in Jerusalem and raised within a cultural framework shaped by memory, ritual, and communal responsibility. His early adult life led him into the technology sector, but the outbreak of war marked a decisive turning point.
Gross served more than four hundred days in reserve duty in a technological unit of the Israeli Air Force. Where others saw debris, he recognized charged matter carrying historical weight. His practice centers on the fusion of contemporary conflict materials with ancient Jewish symbols, creating a dialogue between immediate history and long civilizational memory.
Documented public history
The Menorah was placed in Hostages Square in December 2024 in the context of the Iranian attack on Israel in October 2024 and the Iron Swords War. It was constructed from missile fragments launched from three fronts and incorporated Iron Dome components. None of the missiles caused casualties.
The Menorah was conceived as a symbol of resilience, hope, and the belief in light emerging from destruction.
Throughout the following year the Menorah remained in Hostages Square, appeared at major public events, and was viewed by hundreds of thousands of visitors and tens of millions through media coverage and social networks.
The Wikipedia entry describing the Menorah of Hope was displayed adjacent to the installation as part of the project's open documentation.
Ahead of Hanukkah 5786, the Menorah was transported to the United States via diplomatic mail with the assistance of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Israel. It entered a ceremonial tour across New York City intended to bring light and solidarity to Jewish communities in the diaspora.
It was also lit outside United Nations headquarters in a ceremony led by Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, together with Shira Gvili, sister of Ran Gvili, in a public prayer for his return. Additional lightings took place at Tribeca Synagogue, in the Syrian Jewish community of New York, in Borough Park, and in Crown Heights.
Cultural significance and value trajectory
The Menorah of Hope occupies a rare position in contemporary art where symbolic power, historical documentation, and public ritual converge. Its significance is rooted in layered provenance:
- Material origin. Connects the work directly to a defined geopolitical reality, positioning it as a primary historical artifact rather than a symbolic reference.
- Public presence. Through ceremonies and large scale display, it embeds lived experience into the work itself.
- Institutional and diplomatic circulation. Extends its relevance into international cultural frameworks.
- Media exposure. Expands its historical footprint beyond the physical object.
- Artistic context. Places the Menorah as a defining moment within Eli Gross's evolving body of work.
Taken together, these elements position The Menorah of Hope not only as an artwork, but as a documented historical object, a ritual monument, and a cornerstone within a developing artistic legacy. As the exhibition continues to travel across the United States, the Menorah remains its central axis, carrying forward both its symbolic weight and its cultural trajectory.
Available by offer
The Menorah of Hope is available for acquisition by Jewish communities and institutions across the United States, with offers considered on an ongoing basis. Preliminary offers may be submitted at any time.