A synagogue memorial board is chosen in five decisions, in this order: who is commemorated and how many names must fit, material and lighting, a size that suits the wall, the plaques and the Hebrew wording engraved on them, and only then the model. You approve a free rendering, and the board is made in Israel and shipped to you.
This guide is for synagogue committees, gabbaim and families outside Israel who are considering a memorial board (לוח הנצחה) with Hebrew-engraved plaques. The models are in the synagogue signs category; an overview is on the memorial boards and yahrzeit plaques page.
1. Who the board is for: four situations
The first decision is not which model, but what the board has to do:
- A family commemorating one person or a couple. A small personal board, sometimes with an illuminated memorial candle, or a ner tamid (נר תמיד) with a dedication where no wall space is left.
- A community opening a shared board. Dozens of plaques that fill up over the years. The main question is how much room to leave.
- Fallen members or founders. A board or memorial tree with a shared heading and one template for every plaque.
- Donors. A donor board honors living donors and is planned for an ongoing campaign; it is often combined with a memorial board on one wall. See donor walls for synagogues.
The first conversation is with the gabbai: what the synagogue needs, and which wall is free.
2. Types of board: wood, perspex, lit or unlit
Wood boards
A "wood" board is formica in a wood tone on black MDF with a white back. The tone is chosen from a large formica catalog to sit beside the ark and the wooden furniture. An exact match is not guaranteed: we usually propose two or three tones.
Perspex boards
Clear or matte perspex (acrylic, what many call "glass" or "plexiglass"), laser-cut, for a modern look, often combined with deep tones such as bottle green and gloss black. Depending on the model, the plaques are printed or engraved.
Lit or unlit
Some models have LED backlighting that creates a halo around the board, or an illuminated memorial candle. In newer models each plaque is lit on its own: the light passes through the engraving and the name glows from within. You choose warm white, cool white or blue. On a lit board the light outshines the board tone, so the real choice is between light and dark. Before ordering one, ask your representative whether the transformer suits the voltage and plug type in your country.
3. Size: by the wall and by the number of plaques
Size is set from two directions: the room on the wall, and how many plaques must fit today and in the future. Boards start at 12 plaques and go up to a memorial wall with more than 150. Examples from models on the site:
| Model | Width × height | Plaques |
|---|---|---|
| Lit board, gold plaques on wood, every dedication lit | 70 × 100 cm (27.5 × 39 in) | 45 plus a central plaque |
| Wood board, lit or unlit | 115 × 100 cm (45 × 39 in) | 24 |
| Large lit board, gold plaques on wood | 200 × 118 cm (79 × 46.5 in) | 91 |
| Memorial tree covering a whole wall | 400 × 260 cm (157.5 × 102 in) | 113 |
Two rules help:
- Measure the wall and photograph it, including what is next to it: a window, a cabinet, an electrical outlet, the seats.
- Do not tie yourself to the number of plaques in the photo. Most models can be made with a different number of plaques, some with plaques of different sizes. Give the maximum width and height available and the total number of plaques, or choose a series with a shared motif (tree of life, Star of David, waves) sized to the wall.
4. The plaques: tone, Hebrew engraving and adding names later
Each plaque is engraved with the name of the deceased, the parents' names and the date of passing. Plaques come in gold, silver or black tone, depending on the model; in the newer lit models they are gold mirror perspex.
The engraving is done in Matanyah's own workshop in Holon, Israel, by a team that reads Hebrew: names, abbreviations and Hebrew dates are checked by people who read them every day, in the sketch and again before the board leaves.
Most boards are built from separate plaques, so names can be added over the years: you order the engraved plaque and it is shipped to you, matched to the plaques already in place. A community that expects additions can buy a package of plaques in advance and manage the name list through a personal link on the site. A personal board engraved as one piece is the exception.
5. Wording and dedication: what to write
A memorial board has two levels of text. At the top there is a heading or verse, for example "לזכרון עולם" (for everlasting memory); the verse in a model photo can be replaced with another of the same number of words.
On the plaque itself, the customary wording has four parts: an opening ("לעילוי נשמת", for the elevation of the soul of); the name of the deceased with the father's name, and in some Sephardic communities also the mother's name; the Hebrew date of passing, the yahrzeit (יארצייט) date; and a closing blessing such as "ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.". A personal board takes five to seven lines; a small plaque in a shared board, two.
On a shared board, fix one template for all the names before the work begins: the same order, abbreviations and date format. One person approves the full list in writing. Questions of custom (father's or mother's name, a death between sunset and nightfall) go to the community's rabbi.
The wording described here is Hebrew. If you want an English line on the plaques or in the heading, raise it with your representative when you inquire, so it is settled in the sketch.
6. The process: from consultation to sketch approval
- Free memorial consultation. By phone, with no commitment: we help choose a board and phrase the dedication. Reach us through the contact page.
- Send the details. Whom you are commemorating, how many names, the wall measurements and a photo, light or dark tone, lighting or not, and your city and country (shipping is quoted by address).
- Written quote. The binding price is the one in the written quote. Ask at this stage how to pay from your country.
- Rendering and sketch. A sketch of the board with the names, shown on your wall. Up to 3 initial sketches are free; further sketches, needed because a detail was missing or changed, are charged.
- Check and approve. What is approved in the sketch is what is engraved, and the customer who approves it is responsible for its content.
- Changes after approval. A change request is considered if made within about 6 hours of approval. After that the order may already be in production, and a change is charged as a new order.
- Payment and production. A 50% deposit after confirmation; the balance before shipping. Once production has started a custom order cannot be canceled; before that it can be canceled against a 10% charge for costs incurred.
The full flow for overseas customers is on the ordering from abroad page.
7. Times, shipping, installation and support
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Delivery time | Up to 45 business days from the order for signage shipped abroad. Write an important date into the order; the representative confirms whether it is feasible. |
| Shipping | UPS, FedEx or DHL, insured for the full invoice value, in a custom polystyrene box. Israel Post is cheaper but uninsured and at your risk. |
| Loss or damage | Lost in transit: Matanyah makes a new board and ships it at its own expense, and if the original later arrives you keep both. Damaged: photograph the packaging and the item; Matanyah makes a replacement at its own expense and handles the insurance claim. |
| Customs | Ask your representative who pays import duties and taxes at your destination, and which shipping documents you receive. |
| Self-installation | 4 screws with wall anchors; the electrics arrive ready to connect. Hanging hardware and the transformer are in the package as needed. The challenge is hanging it straight and in the right place; a local installer can do it. |
| Support | No repair warranty abroad, because products are not returned to Israel for repair; instead, phone and remote support, and parts supplied for self-repair. A defective or transit-damaged product is replaced free of charge. |
8. What to ask, and what to send
Answer these in advance and the first rendering will be accurate:
- How many names fit today, and how many may be added without touching what is already engraved?
- Wood or perspex, lit or unlit? If lit, is there an outlet near the wall, and does the transformer suit your voltage?
- Who approves the wording, what is the uniform template, and do you want any English lines?
- When must the board be on the wall, and how much time is left for sketches, approval and shipping?
With your first message, send the wall width and height in cm or inches, the number of names today and expected over the coming years, photos of the wall and its surroundings, and your city and country. Use the contact page, email m@matanyah.co.il, or call +972-3-6436643, Sunday to Thursday, 10:00–17:00 Israel time. Matanyah has made synagogue furniture, embroidery and signage in Holon for 18 years, for synagogues in Israel, the United States and France.
Frequently asked questions
How many plaques fit on a synagogue memorial board?
It depends on the model and the wall. Boards start at 12 plaques and go up to a memorial wall with more than 150. For example, a board of 70 by 100 cm (27.5 by 39 in) holds 45 plaques, and a board of 200 by 118 cm (79 by 46.5 in) holds 91. Most models can be made with a different number of plaques from the one in the photo.
Can names be added after the board is on the wall?
In most boards yes, because they are built from separate plaques. You order a new engraved plaque to match the existing board, and it is shipped to you to fit in place. A personal board engraved as one piece needs a new board or a separate plaque. Check the option against the model you choose instead of assuming it exists.
How long does it take to receive a memorial board outside Israel?
Signage shipped abroad arrives within up to 45 business days from the order. If there is an important date, such as a memorial service or a yahrzeit, write it into the order and the representative confirms whether it can be met. The final date is set in the order, and the time for the sketch and your approval is part of it.
Can we install the board ourselves?
Yes. Installation is 4 screws with wall anchors, and on lit boards the electrics arrive ready to connect; hanging hardware and the transformer are included as needed. What needs care is hanging it straight and in the right place, and a local installer can do that. Before ordering a lit board, ask whether the transformer suits the voltage in your country.
What support is there for a lit board shipped abroad?
Products shipped abroad are not returned to Israel for repair, so there is no repair warranty. Instead you get phone and remote support, and parts are supplied for self-repair. A product that arrives defective or damaged in transit is replaced free of charge, and Matanyah handles the insurance claim.
Can the plaques carry English text as well as Hebrew?
The dedication wording described in this guide is Hebrew. If your community wants an English line on the plaques or in the heading, raise it with your representative when you inquire, so it is settled in the written quote and shown in the sketch before you approve it.
What happens if we find a mistake in a name after approving the sketch?
A change request is considered if it is made within about 6 hours of approval. After that the board may already be in production, and a change is charged as a new order. The customer who approves the sketch is responsible for the content, so check every name and date before approving.
Last updated: 12 November 2026
