The University of Haifa has unveiled a powerful new memorial sculpture, “Hole in the Heart,” generously donated by artist and philanthropist Soraya Sarah Nazarian. This moving piece, now standing in the University’s Memorial Plaza, honors the fallen heroes of October 7th and the Swords of Iron War. Carved from stone, the sculpture features a hole through which viewers are invited to gaze, symbolizing the shifting perspective that comes with grief. The view is narrow at first but expands as one steps closer, offering a broader outlook on the world and altering our orientation forever.

Soraya Nazarian is an Iranian-born, Los Angeles-based artist renowned for her stone carvings exploring themes of family, spirituality, and culture. A longtime supporter of Jewish causes and the State of Israel, Soraya, together with her late husband Younes Nazarian, z”l, has been a cherished friend of the University, contributing through scholarships and the establishment of the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Library.