Tens of thousands of skeletons and human bones in some 300
crates were discovered on Thursday afternoon, 19 Sivan, in
the basement of Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Karem School of
Dentistry. The shocking discovery, which is in flagrant
contradiction to statements made by archaeological
authorities that all bones that were found were given over
for burial, was made through the vigilance of the Federation
for the Prevention of Desecration of Graves.
One of the immediate consequences of the discovery is that
Kohanim are forbidden to enter the buildings of the Hadassah
Hospital Dental School in whose basement the bones were
found, until further notice. The building also houses the
University Dental Care Clinic, where many chareidim receive
treatment.
A few days before the discovery, leading Federation activist
Rabbi Micha Rothschild found out that hundreds of crates
containing skeletons and human bones were located in the
basement. Persistent rumors of the cache had floated around
for years, but they were impossible to confirm under normal
circumstances. The number of crates of bones was not known or
rumored.
Because of construction and renovation in the basement the
bones had to be moved and Rabbi Rothschild and a number of
other activists were able to access the room in which the
bone crates were stored. Upon entry, they were greeted by the
appalling sight of around 300 huge crates containing tens of
thousands of human bones, skeletons and skulls.
The bones unquestionably include many of Jews who were buried
and rested in peace for hundreds of years, some as far back
as the time of Bayis Sheini. Many of the crates have
labels specifying the bones' origins. Some bones were removed
from excavations conducted two years ago on Highway Number
One near the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood in Jerusalem and from
other places such as Meiron, Caesaria and Ashkelon.
The bones are used for research in the Hadassah Hospital by
scientists. They include some from areas which are known to
be Jewish burial grounds, others from areas which are known
to be non-Jewish burial grounds and many from areas in which
the identification has varying degrees of certainty. The
Federation demands dignified handling and burial for all the
bones, without exception.
An investigation made by the experts of the Federation for
the Prevention of the Desecration of Graves into the sources
of the bones showed that many were stolen from excavations
scores of years ago. A professor who is doing research using
these bones, interviewed by the personnel of the Federation,
said innocently that she was surprised by the sudden demand
to transfer the bones to be buried. "Studies on these bones
have been going on for decades," she said meaning to imply
that the practice is well-established. The researchers in
this case are not archaeologists.
This discovery is in flagrant contradiction to many official
statements in recent years by the Antiquities Authority that
all human bones discovered in recent years in archaeological
excavations have been transferred for burial to the Religious
Affairs Ministry. The Antiquities Authority's behavior might
have criminal aspects.
When Rabbi Rothschild gained entry and first saw the large
cache of bones, he called Rabbi Meir Porush who arrived very
quickly and was stunned by the shocking scene, noting that
this is the first time that such a vast quantity of unburied
human bones had been discovered in Israel.
Rabbi Porush contacted the deputy director of the hospital,
Professor Shmuel Shapira who, along with the dean of the
Dentistry School, Professor Yonatan Mann, soon came down to
the basement. At first the officials tried to minimize the
problem and some even claimed that the bones were from India
and not from archaeological digs in Israel. However it was
soon clear that this was not the case.
Seeing that there was no cooperation of the authorities,
Rabbi Porush declared that he will remain on the site until
the bones were brought to burial, even if it takes many days.
"I will not leave the area. I will sleep here and conduct my
affairs from here," he told the startled Professors Shapira
and Mann.
At the end of laborious deliberations lasting a number of
hours, it was decided to call in professionals to replace the
door to the basement and to leave the key with Federation
activists. It was feared that some people might try to
obscure the evidence and hide the bones, since a felony may
be involved. An additional security lock was placed on the
door so that it cannot be opened until a solution is found.
Extensive photographs of the contents were taken as well as
other documentation.
The Federation hopes to bury a small number of the crates in
the coming days, but a full solution of the issue will
require longer negotiations and will take more time but it is
important. The Federation notes that it is satisfied with the
responsible attitude and serious discussions that it has held
with the Hadassah authorities and the scientific
researchers.
