Yad Vashem memorial to open first branch outside Israel in Germany

Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem, the world’s largest Holocaust memorial, is set to establish a branch in Germany – its first outside Israel.

A Yad Vashem education centre could be located in either Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia or Saxony, memorial director Dani Dayan and German Education Minister Karin Prien said in a joint announcement in Berlin on Thursday.

The idea for such a centre originated under the previous chancellor, Olaf Scholz. A feasibility study identified the three states as potential locations, taking into account factors such as accessibility and the existence of other memorial sites.

Establishing a German branch is not about creating a museum but an educational institution, Dayan said.

It is more important what happens inside the building than how it looks. A new building is therefore not planned.

“What makes Yad Vashem famous is its educational approach,” he said, adding that the aim is to bring the victims’ perspective to the perpetrators’ home country.

Location decision in 2026

Representatives of Yad Vashem plan to visit the three states in the coming weeks to meet with government officials and civil society, according to Dayan. A decision on the location is expected in the first half of 2026.

The centre, which will employ around 20 staff members, could begin operations two to three years later. It will be open to everyone but will particularly target teachers.

Prien expressed her gratitude that Yad Vashem is willing to take this step towards Germany. She said anti-Semitism remains a constant challenge for all educational institutions.

“Teachers need comprehensive professional support,” she said