Tiberias Cemetary

March 22nd 2011

The ancient cemetery of Tiberias is situated next to the lakeside promenade of the Sea of Galilee. This burial site is considered sacred because of the Babylonian Talmudic tradition that describes Tiberias to be the first city that will resurrect the dead during the time of the coming of the Messiah. Historically, the cemetery dates back to the time when Herod Antipas hoped to showcase a Roman city there. However, Herod did not realize that he had built the city over a grave site, resulting in the absence of Jews in the city. The Jews began inhabiting Tiberias once Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai bathed in Tiberias and conducted a ceremony to purify Tiberius of its dead.