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.
