Historic full circle: an ancient stone from the Western Wall, displayed for years in the IDF Headquarters compound, was returned this morning to its original place of burial by the Minister of Defense in an emotional ceremony.
yesterday (Monday), a significant ceremony took place at the Western Wall, during which one of the ancient stones of the Western Wall – weighing 5 tons and dating back to the destruction of the Second Temple – was returned from its display and exhibition in recent years at the Kirya (IDF headquarters) in the Ministry of Defense, to its eternal burial place alongside the other sacred stones.
The decision was made following a request by the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, to the Minister of Defense, Mr. Israel Katz, who agreed to return the Western Wall stone to its natural burial site, alongside the other stones preserved there with due honor.
As recalled, in the past year the chief rabbis of Israel and the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites issued a call to return the ancient Western Wall stones to a dedicated burial site in their original location. The Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel convened at the Western Wall and decided that the Israel Antiquities Authority, together with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, would return all remaining Western Wall stones currently displayed at the President’s Residence, the Israel Museum, and Israel Antiquities Authority storage facilities, to burial alongside the Western Wall stones. It was also decided to preserve the sanctity of the stones, including fencing the burial site and issuing guidelines to the public to avoid using them.
The Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz: “The stones of the Western Wall are not only stones; they carry the soul of the Jewish people, the pain of exile and the joy of return. Even when there were attempts to bring this sanctity into the centers of national decision-making, their natural place is here, in their original home. The return of the stone today is not only a physical return, but a reconnection to the deep foundations that sustain the entire nation.”
Minister of Defense, Mr. Israel Katz: “The stones of the Western Wall belong to the Wall, and therefore it was clear that the stone must be returned to its natural place alongside the other stones in the Old City of Jerusalem. Each stone carries the story of the Jewish people – from prayers and hope, through destruction, to the strength and renewed sovereignty of the State of Israel. The return of the stone today reflects our commitment to Jerusalem and the Western Wall forever, and the clear promise: the Temple will never be destroyed again.”
Director General of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Mr. Eli Escusido: “The Israel Antiquities Authority, the Ministry of Heritage, and Minister Amichai Eliyahu are committed to acting on matters of sanctity with respect for Jewish tradition and in accordance with the rulings of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, which determined that the stones of the Western Wall carry special sanctity. Accordingly, the Authority will work to return all stones to eternal burial in their place alongside the other sacred stones.”
MK Rabbi Meir Porush: “We stand here before the historic stones, which have survived all the upheavals and regimes that have passed over the Land of Israel – in historic days in which we merit to see God’s salvation, as the people of Israel fight with strength and prevail over our enemies who rise against us to destroy us. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai promised us: God forbid that Torah will be forgotten from Israel, as it is written: ‘For it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of his descendants.’ This is an opportunity to thank the Rabbi of the Western Wall for the initiative, the Minister of Defense for responding to the request, and for returning the stone to the Western Wall – the place to which millions of Jews from all corners of the world come to pray and merit salvation.”
