Will Tomb of Machpela Finally be Wheelchair Accessible?

Following a public outcry, the Knesset has scheduled a session on the
issue of providing wheelchair accessibility to the Tomb of Machpela in Hebron.
Considered one of the oldest still-standing buildings being used for the same
purpose for which it was constructed, the structure has only steep staircases for
entrances. 

 

Built approximately 2,000 years ago by King Herod the Great on top of
the underground burial tombs, the Machpela complex has a separate Muslim and
Jewish entrances, both via stairs. 

 

Minister of Social Equality Gila Gamliel has written a letter to Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman asking for
approval for the construction of an elevator. 

 

“This is a civil issue,” she stated, “the elevator can serve both Jewish and
Muslim disabled people. On the 51th anniversary of the liberation of Judea and
Samaria, the time has come to build an elevator at the entrance to the Cave of
the Patriarchs.” Gamliel added she has already earmarked the funds in coordination
with other government authorities. The planning stages have already received
archaeological and engineering permits to allow access to the prayer halls without
making any far-reaching changes in the ancient structure.

 

For 700 years, starting with the Mamlukes, the holy site was restricted to
Muslims only. The restrictions ended with the liberation of Hebron during the Six
Day War of 1967. Today, there are over 700,000 visitors every year, with 40,000
visiting during the recent Succot holiday.

 

Member of Knesset Robert Tiviaev of the Zionist Union party also appealed to
the Defense Minister, who has the power to approve zoning permits in Judea and
Samaria. 

 

MK Tiviaev noted his office has received many requests from elderly people
with disabilities who can not visit the Cave of the Matriarchs and
Patriarchs. “There is no doubt that the Tomb of the Patriarchs needs an elevator
more urgently than the Western Wall because of the lack of access to the site,” he
stated. “Both the Western Wall and the Cave of the Patriarchs must be accessible to
all.” Construction of an elevator near the Western Wall in Jerusalem is currently
in progress.

 

The issue of repairs and additions to the Tomb of Machpela is fraught
with political controversy due to objections from the Palestinian Authority
which controls 80% of Hebron. The Muslim Waqf controls the Muslim half of
the 

complex. When the metal detectors and a security area in front of the
Jewish side of the complex were upgraded after decades, the PA complained and
used it as an issue in their bid
to the United Nations to declare the complex a “world heritage site
in danger.” Portions of the Jewish sections are not completely covered by
roofing, which means heavy rainfall can cause flooding. Requests for an
upgrade have been rejected.

 

However Israel and the PA do work together during holidays such as Ramadan.
Security and medical personnel from both entities work with each other to ensure safety
to Muslim visitors. On Jewish holidays, the Islamic authorities change the
removable Arabic signs as the Jewish workers replace them with Hebrew ones for the
day. However while coexistence does exist, many PA officials have made it clear
they prefer the site revert to the Mamluke and Ottoman days.

 

In the past, those with wheelchairs could request a portable Stair Climber
device which was donated in memory of Bradley Jacobs. But the device cannot be used
on Shabbat or holidays and must be requested in advance. In July of 2018,
when Rabbi Eliyahu
Bakshi-Doron, former Sephardic Chief rabbi of Israel visited the site, the
wheelchair-bound Torah sage needed students and local police to carry him up
the steps. 

 

In March, Moti Ohayon, a wheelchair-bound resident of neighboring Kiryat Arba
participated in a Channel 20 documentary on wheelchair accessibility of holy sites.
While outside the Tomb of Machpela, as the cameras were rolling, Moti’s wheelchair
accidentally fell, thus unintentionally highlighting the seriousness of
the problem. Several months later, Moti, fully recovered from the fall, was honored
with the lighting of the Lag BaOmer bonfire at the site. Unfortunately over the Succot
holiday Moti passed away due to complications from his ongoing medical problems. The
Jewish community of Hebron and Kiryat Arba mourn his loss.

 

 

 

* Knesset
to discuss solution to accessibility in Tomb of the
Patriarchs

* Call
to Prime Minister to make Cave of the Patriarchs Accessible

* Will
the Tomb of the Patriarchs be Accessible to the handicapped?

* The left
also supports accessibility of the Tomb of the Patriarchs

* PM promises Rabbi Lau:
Tomb of the Patriarchs will be accessible

Plan your visit to Hebron today:

 

United States contact info:

http://www.hebronfund.org

1760 Ocean Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11230

718-677-6886

info@hebronfund.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronvideo



Israeli contact info:

http://en.hebron.org.il/

02-996-5333

office@hebron.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hebron.machpela

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronvideo

 

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* Tombs of Nathan and Gad –
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