Liverpool has unveiled its first sculpture in memory of victims of the Holocaust, thanks largely to the efforts of staff and pupils at King David High School.

Created by Liverpool-based sculptor Julian Taylor, the huge ball-shaped structure depicts hundreds of small figures holding hands, each one modelled on a different pupil, teacher or another prominent member of the school community.

The metal Installation sits in the grounds of the school, but close enough to the road so that it is clearly visible to passers-by.

The new Holocaust memorial sculpture by Julian Taylor at King David High School Liverpool

King David High School deputy head October Wright, who was instrumental in supporting the project, said that the message of the sculpture was that of “kehillah” (meaning “community” in Hebrew).

She told the JC: “We decided to focus on community since community is the light after the darkness of the Holocaust. The way the sculpture has been made and positioned means that the sunlight comes through it at all points in the day, and when we get a light installed, light will always be shining through the figures.”

She added: “What does kehillah mean for a Jewish school where only 20 per cent of the pupils are Jewish?”

Wright said that the sculpture was a way to bring the whole school community together. 

The idea for the sculpture initially came about after the school’s art teacher Elaine Ball suggested an installation on the school grounds.

Taylor managed to involve the whole school community by taking photos of pupils, staff and governors.

“Julian asked people to pose in a way that represented how they saw themselves in relation to the school community,” said Wright.

"Lots of the kids did a football pose, but some were holding hands with a friend or looked like they were deep in thought. I’m an English teacher, so I was reading a book.”

The pupils then had to cut out the photographs and Taylor, who created the Hillsborough Band of Light memorial sculpture, turned them all into metal figures.

The concept of the sculpture was also to provide a “sustainable” way to learn about the Holocaust, said Wright. “Often, the problem with a memorial sculpture is that it just stands there and doesn’t serve a purpose.”

Rabbi Natan Fagleman at the unveiling of Liverpool's first Holocaust memorial sculpture, at King David High School

The school decided to run seminars for the students on how to memorialise the Holocaust and students are going to be trained to become guides so that they can explain the sculpture to members of the public, who are invited to arrange a visit.

The deputy head said: “Art is something people can engage with. We are already seeing people dropping off their kids and talking about it. I have already heard about four different interpretations.”

The opening ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries, including the Lord Lieutenant Mark Blundell DL, the High Sheriff, Professor Dr John Mohin OBE DL and the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Liverpool, Richard and Erica Kemp.

Dignitaries at the unveiling of the Holocaust memorial sculpture at King David High School in Liverpool

Student chaplain Rabbi Natan Fagleman led prayers, pupil Matthew Simpson,17, played Yiddish music before the sculpture was unveiled by Lu Lawrence, daughter of much-loved Holocaust survivor and educator Zigi Shipper, who had been a visitor at the school.

Lawrence said: “This memorial reminds us all that, as my father, Zigi Shipper, would so often say – Hitler did not win - and I, and so many of you here are the living proof. The community lives on!

She said that when she first heard about the memorial, “my initial thoughts were how sad it was that Zigi didn’t live to see it. However, on further reflection, this just goes to prove the power of his legacy and that Holocaust education will continue to thrive long after the last survivors have passed.”

Lu Lawrence, daughter of Holocaust survivor and educator Zigi Shipper, unveils Liverpool's first Holocaust memorial sculpture

King David High School Headteacher Michael Sutton said that the sculpture was “a testament to our enduring commitment to holocaust education”.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, who was at the ceremony and whose office has contributed to the funding, said afterwards: “More than eight decades on, the Holocaust remains as one of history’s darkest chapters. As we continue to lose those who bore witness to the unimaginable horror that befell six million Jewish people and the millions of others who suffered and perished, it is more important than ever that we stand together and remember.

“This memorial stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of memory. It is our hope that it will serve as a place of reflection, education, and inspiration for generations to come.”

The school is seeking a further £6,000 to cover the costs of the sculpture.