Haifa court stops auction of yellow star, Holocaust-era documents

A Haifa court has issued an immediate restraining order, preventing the auction of significant Holocaust-era artifacts. The items include original yellow stars worn by Jews during the Holocaust and liberation certificates.

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I want to thank the judge for her true and purposeful judgment. It’s appropriate that these items be in the Holocaust museum in order for future generations to learn from them.

The petition against the auction was filed by the Yad Ezer La-Haver association, which operates the Holocaust Museum in Haifa and provides care for Holocaust survivors. The association's CEO, Shimon Sabbag, argued that if the artifacts were sold to private buyers, they risked being lost to public view, causing irreparable harm to Holocaust research and commemoration efforts.

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It’s unbecoming to sell Holocaust artifacts; it’s simply outrageous and unbelievable.

Judge Chava Klemperer-Martzki of the Magistrates Court in Haifa fully accepted the association's arguments. Sabbag expressed gratitude for the judgment, stating it is appropriate for these items to be housed in a Holocaust museum for future generations. He called the idea of selling such artifacts "outrageous and unbelievable."

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I don’t understand what the problem is.

However, the owner of the auction house, Pa'amonim, defended the decision to auction the items. He told Walla that the sale was intended to further the memory of the Holocaust. He explained that the items belonged to a couple who died without heirs and were salvaged when their apartment was cleared. The owner stated that multiple Holocaust museums and private individuals, including those with survivor family members, had expressed interest in preserving the legacy of the artifacts.

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There are people who want to guard the Holocaust and to guard the artifacts that belonged to survivors. It’s important historically and, therefore, in my opinion, objects that should be sold. It’s a shame that things like these are being thrown away.