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23 Kislev 5761 - December 20, 2000 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
17 Ancient Graves Destroyed in Yavneh
by B. Rabinowitz

Residents of the city of Yavneh were deeply shocked to learn about the desecration and destruction of 17 ancient graves on 6 Kislev. This shocking act took place at the Friedman- Chakshori construction site, near the grave of Rabban Gamliel which is in Yavneh.

Three months ago, while work was proceeding on the abovementioned construction project, an ancient cemetery was discovered. Antiquities Authority personnel summoned to the site by the construction company -- which, incidentally, also subsidized the visit -- destroyed a number of graves found there.

Destruction of the graves aroused the activists of the Federation for the Prevention of Desecration of Graves. With the help of the chareidi Knesset members, who exerted heavy pressure on the construction company owners, the activists succeeded in halting the desecration of the graves.

Immediately following this incident, meetings were held between Federation members and the construction company. Various possibilities for continuing the work without disturbing the ancient graves were discussed. The construction company solemnly and resolutely pledged not to destroy any graves during their work.

On 6 Kislev, however, Antiquities Authority personnel were summoned to the site by the company. In a swift operation, they brutally shattered 17 graves with pickaxes and other tools, scattering fragments all over the area. The next day, a group of volunteers from Jerusalem, headed by Rabbi Micha Rothschild, one of the Federation leaders, joined a group of Yavneh residents who worked all day gathering soil and bones and placing them in 200 bags for reburial, acting with fear and trepidation at the realization of their holy task.

Federation leaders sharply protested the behavior of the Friedman-Chakshori company, which violated all promises not to destroy the ancient cemetery. "This isn't the first time that this company has related to the entire issue of the desecration of graves with shameful scorn. They acted that way in the past in Elad and, despite all protests, they have not altered their behavior by one iota."

Heads of the Federation also noted that scores of graves remain in the ancient cemetery. As a result, the public is asked to be on the alert and to assist with guarding of the site and, in addition, to do all it possibly can in order to pressure the company to desist from further desecration.

 

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