The monument shows a 23-foot sculpture that will honor the approximately 1,200 victims of the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023 (with the kind approval of the archillusion design)
The city of Beverly Hills is looking for additional funds for the planned monument on October 7, a permanent exhibition on the approximately 1,200 victims of the attacks in Israel led by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The sculpture stands next to the 9/11 memorial garden, which is located on the northwestern corner of South Santa Monica Boulevard and Rexford Drive. The monument from October 7th is located directly opposite the northeastern corner of Burton Way and the Rexford Drive. While no city money was used for the construction of the 9/11 memorial garden -as was fully financed by private donations -October 7th is partially financed by tax money, since the city has already assigned 500,000 US dollars to city funds for the construction of the project. However, the city expects the project to cost around 1.5 million US dollars and create a fundraiser to seek donations to the public.
The memorial is entitled “Forty steps to the sky: a monument to light and memory” and has a 23-foot sculpture that is similar to a staircase that is surrounded by a small pavilion that is illuminated at night. The project was designed by Archillusion Design.
“The spiral form of the monument is a metaphor for the old relationship of the Jewish people with the rise, both physically and spiritual. The stairs are reminiscent of Jacob's ladder, a holy bridge between earth and heaven, body and soul,” says the project description. “At its base there is a circular pool that was designed as a calendar. Twelve smooth steel plates share the foundation like the 12 months of the year. The amount of the structure, 23 foot, marks the year of the tragedy. The above steps represent weeks that are aligned with the months. The torn edges turn into the form of a light and remind of the breaking of peace and the dissolution of peace.”
In a study meeting on September 9, the city council checked the special features of a fundraising campaign to collect around 1 million US dollars for the project.
The Council found that the monument should recognize the donors by based their names on the back wall of the monument with different font sizes based at the level of donation.
The proposal to create a fundraising campaign for the monument received a public comment.
“Unfortunately, today I see it primarily as a monument to the genocide, and I think the city shouldn't have a role in creating,” said the resident Mark Elliot. “Nevertheless, I believe that everyone who supports this project should even be recognized with engraved plaques in the monument with these 10 dollars.
Elliot also suggested that the monument should contain a confirmation of the approximately 64,000 Palestinians, which have been killed in Gaza stripes since the beginning of the war.
The permanent monument on October 7th is outside the Beverly Hills Public Library. (Photo by Tabor Brewster)