The memorial was inaugurated in 2000, replacing an earlier 1947 obelisk that was the first Soviet monument to specifically commemorate Jewish Holocaust victims.
The bronze sculpture 'The Last Way' consists of 27 figures representing the victims moving toward death.
Architect Leonid Levin, who helped design the memorial, was a survivor of the ghetto period.
The memorial is part of a larger planned complex honoring the 'Righteous Among the Nations' who risked their lives to save Jews.
It is one of the few Holocaust memorials in the former Soviet Union where the Jewish identity of the victims was explicitly acknowledged during the construction period.
The Yama Memorial, also known as 'The Pit,' marks the site of the Minsk Ghetto where approximately 5,000 Jews were murdered by Nazis on March 2, 1942. The memorial features a bronze sculptural group titled 'The Last Way,' depicting victims descending into a pit. Designed by architect Leonid Levin and sculptor Alexander Fingel, the installation is integrated into a landscape of dark stones and stairs. It serves as a somber monument to the Holocaust in Belarus. The site is located in the Central District of Minsk at the junction of Melnikaite and Zaslavskaya streets. It remains a central place for commemorative ceremonies and reflection on the history of the Minsk Ghetto.
From the top of the stairs looking down toward the bronze sculpture to capture the scale and somber perspective of the installation.
Approach the site with quiet respect as it is a place of active mourning and remembrance.
Visit during the daylight hours to properly view the details of the bronze sculpture.
The ground is uneven due to the steep stairs, so wear comfortable, sturdy footwear.
Avoid loud conversations, laughing, or using the memorial as a backdrop for casual social media photos.
Dress modestly and maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor suitable for a memorial site.
