A memorial to the victims of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel is being forced to move as Brighton and Hove City Council begins a major makeover of Palmeira Square Gardens.
The revamp at the northern end of Palmeira Square, Hove, will see the removal of two long-standing features: the city’s floral clock, which has been in place for more than seven decades, and the Jewish memorial, which has stood for the past 21 months.
The memorial, set up without formal council approval, was previously described by officials as a “tolerated trespass.”
Despite this, the site became an important place of reflection and community for many.
Heidi Bachram, organiser of the Palmeira Memorial Group, said:
“We are so thankful to everyone who has supported us. The hardy group of volunteers who turned up in all weathers to hold services are the best of us.
Whenever I felt sad, coming to the memorial was a comfort. Being with people who cared made me feel better. I could see it meant so much to them too, and this tiny space had a massive ripple effect throughout the world. We never will.”
The memorial will now be moved to the Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue on Palmeira Avenue, with its final day in Palmeira Square marked by a special farewell service on Saturday, August 31.
The event, running from 2.30pm to 7pm, will include the reading of all the names of those murdered in the October 7 attacks.
After the relocation, weekly memorial services will continue at 6.30pm every Friday outside the synagogue.
Add your first comment to this post