Tombs of the Children of Israel

March 22nd 2011

While exploring the rocky plateau of northeast Jerusalem, you will encounter a huge, mysterious structure, known as Kubur Bani Yisra’il (Arabic for the tombs of the Children of Israel). Archaeologists found that the tombs date as far back as to around 2000 BCE. Some say it is the territory that was once allocated to the tribe of Binyamin and that the true tomb of Rachel rests here; while others theorize that Rachel’s son decided to name the structures in her memory. Regardless of whose tombs lie in the rectangular walled structures, many come visit the site to pray and pay homage to Rachel and to the children of Israel.