The poem inscribed on the memorial:
Permitted for Publication / Da’al Rodriguez Garcia
It is Permitted for publication
that our hearts are broken.
And in our secret places,
in the empty rooms
Thousands of howls
are stifled without a sound.
It is permitted for publication
that our blood was spilled.
and we were robbed in the darkness
of the most precious of all.
It has already been permitted for publication
that the magical, dazzling glow
of the ones we loved, has gone out.
But beneath that same earth
A stubborn plant already sprouts
Taking root to no end where love will flourish.
When we were tasked with designing the Iron Swords War Memorial in commemoration of Jerusalem fallen civilians and soldiers, we sought to reflect the deep pain, the fractures, and the immense loss that befell us on October 7th. At the same time, we wanted to express our belief that from these ruins, something new can grow, a spark of light that can emerge even from the most broken and shattered tree. Through the memorial, we aimed to convey the message that even from the darkest of times, there is a possibility for new light.
We hope we have succeeded in conveying this message, and We hope that Israeli society will know how to cultivate the light we so yearn for – the light of mutual respect, love and peace among us.
We hope that this memorial will serve as a source of comfort for the bereaved families, for the city of Jerusalem, and for the people of Israel.
we sought to reflect the deep pain, the fractures, and the immense loss that befell us on October 7th. At the same time, we wanted to express our belief that from these ruins, something new can grow, a spark of light that can emerge even from the most broken and shattered tree.
