A donor wall is the community's way of saying thank you, and an invitation to give. Matanyah designs and makes donor walls, donor trees, founders' boards and illuminated recognition boards for synagogues and Jewish institutions in its workshop in Holon, Israel, sized to your wall and to the number of names, with space planned for the donors who join next year. Every board is approved on a free rendering and shipped insured to communities abroad.
Types of donor recognition
- Classic donor board. A board with the donors' names and room for plaques to be added later.
- Donor tree / donor wall. A tree of life with branches and leaves, or birds, each carrying one name. Suited to an ongoing campaign, because the tree fills up over the years.
- Founders' and partners' board. For the principal donors who built the synagogue, the beit midrash or the institution.
- Illuminated donor board. Perspex with LED lighting, for a modern, prominent look in a lobby.
- Boards for institutions. Yeshivot, schools, community centres, medical centres and non-profits.
Materials are formica in a wood tone on MDF, clear or matte perspex, or combinations, with or without lighting. The style is matched to the building: carved and classic beside a traditional ark, clean and modern in a contemporary lobby.
Donor wall or memorial board?
A donor board honours the living people who gave to the building and its activity. A memorial board commemorates the departed. The two are often combined on one wall in one style, and a donor plaque can itself carry a line in memory of the donor's parents.
Planning the wall before you choose a design
Our Hebrew guide to planning a donor board sets out five steps, and they apply everywhere:
- Decide whom the board honours. Building donors and founders, regular partners, donors of specific items (an ark, a Torah scroll, a parochet), or donors to a particular campaign. One board can hold several groups, each in its own area; a large community sometimes prefers a separate founders' board.
- Set one written rule for the order of names. By giving level, with a name for each level and a plaque size per level, alphabetical within the level; alphabetical only, all plaques the same size, for a community that does not want to show amounts; or order of joining, where each new donor takes the next free place. Decide this in the committee, write it down, and apply it to donors who join in five years' time.
- One list, one format. Family name or full name, with or without titles, spouses named or not. Many donors ask for a line such as "in memory of their parents" or "in honour of their children".
- Leave room for future donors. Plan for today's names only, for a few additions, or for a campaign that continues for years. Trees and plaque boards both allow empty places to be filled later.
- Choose the model by the wall and the number of names. Send the wall measurements and photos, and we propose designs that fit.
A heading verse is traditional: "ויקחו לי תרומה" or "ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם" are common choices.
How the project runs for a community abroad
- Send the wall measurements in centimetres or inches, photos, the list of names (Hebrew, English or both, as you want them to appear), the number of future places you want, and your city and country, through the contact page.
- A representative sends a written quote.
- On confirmation, a 50% deposit; the balance is paid before shipping.
- You receive a rendering of the board on your wall and a sketch with every name. Up to three initial sketches are free; one person approves the sketch in writing, and what is approved is what is made.
- Production in Holon, then packing in a custom polystyrene box and shipping by UPS, FedEx or DHL, insured for the full invoice value. Signage ordered from abroad is delivered within up to 45 business days from the order.
The board hangs on four screws with wall anchors; on illuminated boards the electrics arrive ready to connect. If the board arrives damaged, send photos of the packaging and the board and we replace it at our expense. Full details are on the Ordering from abroad page.
Adding donors later
Plaques and leaves are separate, so new names are ordered over the years to match the existing board and shipped to you. For a campaign that runs for years, a donor tree is the natural choice: each leaf or bird carries one name and the tree fills up as the community grows.
Specifications at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Types | Classic board, donor tree or wall, founders' board, illuminated board, institutional board |
| Materials | Wood-tone formica on MDF, clear or matte perspex, combinations, optional LED |
| Names | Engraved plaques or leaves, added over the years; order rule set by the community |
| Rendering | Free, on a photo of your wall; up to three initial sketches free |
| Delivery abroad | Up to 45 business days from the order |
| Installation | Four screws with wall anchors; electrics ready to connect |
| Shipping | Custom polystyrene box; UPS, FedEx or DHL with full-value insurance |
Frequently asked questions
Can a synagogue in the United States order a donor wall from Israel?
Yes. Matanyah makes donor walls and donor trees in Holon and ships them worldwide, insured for the full invoice value. The order runs by email: wall measurements and photos, a quote, a deposit, a rendering and sketch for approval, production, and shipping after the balance is paid.
Can names be added to the donor wall after it is installed?
Yes. Plaques and leaves are separate, so new names are engraved later to match the existing board and shipped to you. Plan the number of free places when the wall is designed.
How should we order the names on a donor board?
Choose one written rule in the committee: by giving level with plaque sizes per level, alphabetical only, or by order of joining. The rule should apply to donors who join years later, so that nobody is surprised by where a name appears.
Can the names be in English as well as Hebrew?
Send the list as you want it to appear and it goes onto the sketch for approval. Ask the representative at the quote stage about the lettering options for your board.
How long does a donor wall take?
Signage ordered from abroad is delivered within up to 45 business days from the order, including production and transit. If you need the wall for a dedication ceremony, write the date into the order and we confirm whether it can be met.
What is the difference between a donor wall and a memorial board?
A donor wall honours living donors and the people who built the community. A memorial board commemorates the departed. The two are often combined on one wall in one style.
Do we need professional installation?
The board hangs on four screws with wall anchors, and on illuminated boards the electrics arrive ready to connect, with the transformer included where needed. Hanging it straight and in the right place is the only part that needs care.
Last updated: 12 November 2026
