By Charles Miller
The Mount of Olives cemetery in Jerusalem, Har HaZeitim, is the national cemetery of the Jewish people. As the final resting place for an estimated 150,000 Jews, much of the glorious history of world Jewry can be found amongst its sacred kevarim. From Biblical times until today, Jews from all over the world have been buried on this sacred mountain, located just east of Har Habayit and the Old City of Jerusalem.
Har HaZeitim is referenced throughout Tanach, including in Ezekiel (11:23), “And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city,” and specifically in Zechariah (14:4), where it references the apocalyptic prophecy of the end of days. After the destruction of the second Temple, Har HaZeitim also became a traditional place to lament the Temple’s destruction and pray for the rebuilding of Jerusalem in all its glory.
The graves of the prophets Zechariah, Malachi, and Chagai are found on the mountain, as are those of great rabbinical, political, and national figures in Jewish history. The Ohr HaChaim, Ben Ish Chai, the Ramban, the Bartenura, as well as more contemporary rabbinic figures such as Rav Abraham Isaac Kook, Rav Shlomo Goren, Rav Yitzchak Hutner, and many others, are buried there. The founder of Hadassah, Henrietta Szold, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin chose to be buried on Har HaZeitim, and the graves of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, the victims of the recent Mumbai terror attack, are also found on the mountain.
At the time of Israel’s founding in 1948, Jerusalem was to be internationalized, with an armistice agreement allowing for “free access to the holy sites and cultural institutions and the use of the cemetery on the Mount of Olives.” After Israel’s War of Independence, Jordan occupied East Jerusalem, including the Old City, Har HaBayit, the Kotel, and Har HaZeitim. From 1948–1967, contrary to international guarantees, Jews were forbidden access to their holy places, including burials on the mountain. Jordan destroyed all vestiges of Jewish life in the Old City, uprooting synagogues in the Jewish Quarter, displacing all Jewish inhabitants of the area, and destroying thousands of tombstones on Har HaZeitim. King Hussein, the ruler of Jordan at the time, utilized Jewish tombstones for latrines, roads, and various other desecrations.
The Six Day War of 1967 returned the Jewish people to our holy places, including the Old City and Har HaZeitim. The rebuilding of Jerusalem began and continues to this very day. Despite the reunification of Jerusalem, the desecration of Jewish graves and threats to Jews visiting there persisted. Hostile elements within the Arab community, including several Arab villages and schools that border the mountain, have contributed to the problems there. They have been a source of violence and mayhem for years.
In 2010, Israel’s state comptroller, Micha Lindenstrauss, issued a report detailing the terrible state of affairs at the holy site and criticized the Israeli government for its neglect of the situation there. This report triggered outrage from world Jewry and spurred a movement to change the dynamic on Har HaZeitim.
The International Committee for Har HaZeitim (ICHH) was quickly organized to deal with this national disgrace. Formed by those who have loved ones buried on the mountain, the committee galvanized to make our voices heard by the Israeli government and world Jewry. In June 2010, esteemed committee member Malcolm Hoenlein and ICHH chair Menachem Lubinsky met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to explain our deep concerns about the deteriorating situation and to demand government action to protect and develop this sacred site for the Jewish people.
Seven years since its inception, ICHH has worked in tandem with the Israeli government, the Jerusalem municipality, and members of Knesset to dramatically change the dynamic on the mountain. Hundreds of surveillance cameras have been installed on the mountain, a permanent police station has been built and manned, thousands of graves have been restored, new fencing and lighting have been implemented, and new legislation has been passed to punish those who desecrate the site or who threaten mourners visiting there. We’ve also overseen the groundbreaking for a visitor center, which will promote tourism to this historical site and be a repository of the Jewish history contained on the mountain.
for Har HaZeitim
ICHH aims to assure that Har HaZeitim, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, remains a place of dignity and respect for those buried there and for those loved ones who visit. Our efforts culminated in early December with the inauguration of the Knesset caucus for Har HaZeitim, the largest caucus in the history of the State of Israel. With over 70 members of Knesset representing individuals from every political party in Israel’s parliament aside from the Arab parties, Har HaZeitim is a cause that has galvanized both Israel and world Jewry. Our committee’s meetings in Israel were aimed at thanking the leadership of Israel for their support in this endeavor and to stress the importance of this project for the future of Har HaZeitim and for the unity of Jerusalem.
During our three-day mission, which incredibly coincided with President Trump’s declaration recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, we had the opportunity to meet with the distinguished rabbinic and political leadership of Israel. We had arrived in Israel at a historic moment.
at Beit HaNasi
Our first event was a reception with the chief rabbis of Israel, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau, and Rishon L’Tzion Yitzhak Yosef. Both rabbis blessed our efforts and spoke of the spiritual importance of Har HaZeitim for the Jewish people. A festive dinner at the Waldorf Astoria followed, with speeches of support from Minister of Housing and Construction Yoav Galant and former Health Minister Rabbi Yitzhak Litzman. Knesset Caucus Chair Rabbi Yoav Ben-Tzur of the Shas party welcomed us to Israel and detailed the nature of his work on behalf of our cause.
Our next day began with a security briefing on top of Har HaZeitim. We were briefed by senior members of the Israeli police force and they explained to us the dramatic changes that have taken root on the holy site. We toured the new police station and were briefed on the various security measures put into place since our committee’s inception. Next, we were hosted for lunch by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich, the rabbi of the Kotel, in the Kotel Tunnels. Rabbi Rabinovich spoke about the holiness of Jerusalem and the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the return of the Jewish people to Eretz Yisrael and to our holy places.
with ICHH members at City Hall
From the Old City, we gathered in the Knesset to hear from members of the caucus, including Speaker of Knesset Yuli Edelstein and Isaac Herzog, head of Israel’s opposition Labor Party. Malcom Hoenlein delivered an emotional speech extolling the unity of Jerusalem and the eternity of the Jewish people.
Upon leaving the Knesset, we traveled to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Office of the Prime Minister. Recalling with great fondness his initial meeting with our committee in 2010, the prime minister thanked us for our steadfast support for Israel, the Jewish people, and for the preservation of Har HaZeitim. He offered his full support for our efforts. In a reference to the events that would occur the next day, the prime minister told those of us assembled that we would be witness to a great day in Jewish history with the anticipated declaration from the president of the United States.
The last day of our mission began at Beit HaNasi, the official residence of the president of Israel. President Reuven Rivlin, an eighth-generation Israeli, welcomed us to Israel and praised the work of ICHH. We then davened Minchah at the shul on the grounds of his residence. Our last stop was at City Hall of Jerusalem for a meeting with Mayor Nir Barkat, mayor of Jerusalem. From ICHH’s inception, Mayor Barkat has championed our work and has been a partner in projects to develop the area. With President Trump’s declaration only hours away, Mayor Barkat had major international media waiting for him as he spent time with us detailing his plans for the mountain. Besides the visitor center, the mayor discussed with us the plans to install a cable-car system to transport tourists from other parts of the city to both the Kotel and to Har HaZeitim. Mayor Barkat told us that he routinely takes distinguished visitors to the city up to Har HaZeitim, where they can witness all of Jerusalem.
It is truly a miraculous time in Jewish history. We are privileged to be a part of the rebuilding of the Jewish commonwealth after 2,000 years of dispersion and persecution. The Jewish people’s return to Eretz Yisrael is a tremendous blessing. ICHH is proud to do its part to uphold the dignity of our people, the unity of Jerusalem, and the sacredness of our holy places.
Charles Miller is an attorney and resides with his wife and four children in Woodmere, New York. His brother-in-law is buried on Har HaZeitim and he has been a member of ICHH since its inception.