INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR

Learning from the past. Planning for the future.

AFTER 2,000 YEARS, a new building is going up directly across from the Har HaBayit

(site of the First and Second Temples) 4 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAR HAZEITIM embedded inembedded Jewish history. and instantly are you view of takebreathtaking the and in amphitheater magnificent You Prophets. the to over take aseat dating back years luminaries in Jewish the prominent 3000 most the of site overlooking 150,000 including burial Jews, gardens the beautiful to stairs You You Hazeitim. of years. Har the Center Education 2000 ascend new Visitor now are inthe nearly in area the building majorin public first the of It is Jews over centuries. emotions the the triggering ahuge being lobby Habayit, overlooking entrance Har the the with building art of the state anew rise will modern Hamikdash, Beit of the destruction the after Now, years 2,000 nearly people. Jewish the of history of foundation the very the is Basin,” “Holy the as to referred often is which area, The Temples Second and First the where Hamikdash) (Beit site Judaism’s is holiest stood. left the On Way, Valley Jericho adjacent Kidron the the into and out of juts Olives Mt. The “derech Yericho.” Hamikdash. Beit of the mourning over destruction the in here clothing Jews would their rent Habayit. view overlooking Har only the the itwas centuries, (Messiah)arrive. Moshiach many first will For the where site the Hazeitim, Har on buried being many of Jews dreamt days dark Holocaust, in the of the even march, that death said It is their on The history of the Jewish People lies here… IS BEING IN MADE JERUSALEM History History and so does its future. INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR

Holiest The Jewish Legends

The notables interred on Har Hazeitim are part of Notable amongst the post-1967 burials were a significant Site an endless grid, including such legendary saints number of Holocaust survivors, Roshei Yeshiva and as the Ohr Hachaim, Ben Ish Chai, the Ramban, Chasidic leaders. In addition, other Jews of note on Har The holiness of Har Hazeitim dates and Rav Ovadia of Bartneura. Also buried here Hazeitim include the Holtzbergs who were murdered in back to the Beit Hamikdash when Har are leading admorim (Chasidic leaders) of the a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India in 2008. The cemetery Hazeitim served its twin mountain, the twentieth century such as the Bais Yisroel and Lev also includes a section with the remains of those originally Har Habayit, which it faces. Here the interred in Gush Katif and many victims of terrorist events. Simcha of Ger, as well as revered Roshei Yeshiva Kohanim (priests) prepared to do the Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein and other heads of avoda, oil from the olive trees was used When Israeli troops captured during Yeshivas Slobodka/Chevron. to light the Menorah, the ashes for the the Six-Day War of 1967, it included Har Hazeitim. For 19 years (1948-1967), the cemetery was under the control Parah Ha’adumah (Red Heifer) were The cemetery includes many leading figures of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the result was prepared, and it was the first mountain from ’s War of Independence and Israeli nothing short of catastrophic. The Jordanians destroyed where emissaries announced the advent Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Henrietta Szold, 60,000 graves to build the Intercontinental Hotel (now of a new month, Rosh Chodesh. A sacred founder of the Hadassah movement, as well as the Seven Arches Hotel) and other infrastructure projects place, the mountain is alluded to in the other distinguished individuals in Israel’s history on the apex of the mountain. The rest of the cemetery Book of Ezekiel (11:23) as a place where such as Nobel Prize Poet Laureate and writer Shai also was systematically vandalized, graves uprooted, “The glory of the Lord went up from the Agnon and the father of modern day Hebrew and tombstones overturned; this despite their pledge to midst of the city of Jerusalem.” Eliezer ben Yehudah. protect these sites and to allow free access to Jews. 6 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAR HAZEITIM “Repair work proceeds at a the danger that funds and In May 2010, eve the on of Israel’s 62nd late anniversary, the State Controller astinging issued Micha Lindenstrauss governments for virtually neglecting the cemetery: cemetery: the neglecting governments for virtually of successive of abuse one and Heblamed Judaism’s Hazeitim. Har neglect the on sites, holiest Israeli report standards are inadequate, inadequate, are standards snail’s pace, maintenance maintenance snail’s pace, security sorely is lacking unabated, accentuating unabated, accentuating labor at the site will go criminal acts continue continue acts criminal and vandalism and and vandalism and down the drain.” the down A National A HISTORY OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE AND NEGLECT HISTORY OF Disgrace buckling and mourners and visitors feared visitors and for safety.buckling their mourners and roads were refuse and could everywhere, seen be Garbage children school for Arab way their making from and to school. marketplace mall apedestrian and contraband, for and drugs for donkeys,passageway asoccer a major Arab field youths, for ahighway a contractors, ashortcut, for seeking residents dumping the grounds for became local cemetery The Jerusalem. historic off-limits an dangerous became of midst Hazeitim site in the live they Har historic whether there, in Israel the abroad, or of Olives.” Mt. lovedthe with people buried For ones most whichPost wondered in if editorial had an abandoned “Israel exception the with of Jerusalem notice the scant media, in the a “national disgrace” allowed that was continue, to itreceived in what biting tone of indictment an amounted to its Despite INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR 8 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAR HAZEITIM IN TERN AT IONAL COMM IT TEE FO R included participants from other parts of the world. of the parts from other participants included and in Israel achapter with expanded was ICHH the years, In subsequent (ICHH) established. Hazeitim was for Har Committee International In 2010, the Organizations. Jewish of Major American Conference of Presidents the of Chairman Vice Hoenlein, Malcolm including spectrum, Jewish the from throughout leaders He mobilized Jewish Hazeitim. Har on buried are parents whose businessman shocked Avrahameditorial Lubinsky, aBrooklyn Post Jerusalem the and Report Lindenstrauss The e he ichhthe i (INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAZEITIM) HAR st ab 2010 l Its mission includes the following: the includes mission Its countries. in other pending applications USA with in the organization a501(c) is Hazeitim for Har (3) Committee International The Jerusalem and as the national cemetery of the Jewish people. of Jewish the cemetery national the as and Jerusalem of aUnited part acentral as cemetery the to preserve determined ICHH is The abuse. gross and desecration of neglect, following years Jerusalem in Hazeitim Har on nation of Jewish the cemetery holiest and oldest the to preserve various activities to coordinate established was Hazeitim Har for Committee International The i s hed s

ICHH Historic Accomplishments After intensive lobbying by the ICHH, and working with the Israeli government and municipal authorities, the ICHH has succeeded in reversing the dismal state of the cemetery and restoring security, including the following accomplishments:

Restoration security police More than 20,000 graves destroyed over centuries and cameras A police substation with a particularly those during the Jordanian rule (1948-1967) Nearly 176 cameras were full garrison of police officers and border patrol units was have been restored by the Government with 23,000 still installed in addition to a 24/7 established. remaining desecrated and in need of restoration. Command Center.

sanitation fencing knesset Thanks to the assistance of the Jerusalem To deny Arab vandal’s easy access to graves and mourners, caucus municipality, sanitation services were a series of new fences were installed throughout the In an historic development, the restored to the cemetery. The area that cemetery as part of its major upgrade. Narrow roads that Knesset (Parliament) established had become a “dumping ground” for local snaked through the cemetery were closed to stop it from a caucus of 67 members from residents was cleaned up. being used as a thoroughfare (shortcut) for local Arab across the political spectrum, the residents, disturbing graves and visitors. largest in Israel’s history.

Security Restored Thanks to these efforts, security was restored on one of Israel’s holiest sites. The number of visitors has increased dramatically from just under an average of 200 per day in 2015, to more than 2,500 in 2019. On some days, particularly those that marked the yahrzeits of such giants as the Ohr Hachaim, the admorim of Ger and Zhvil, or the Bartrenura, as many as 150,000 people came, bringing new life to the ancient cemetery. 10 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAR HAZEITIM IN TERN AT IONAL COMM IT TEE FO R The ICHH In-Action ICHH The Prime Benjamin Minister Netanyahu adelegation ICHH of the hosts ICHH officials meeting with Deputy Mayor Eliezer Rochbeger Avraham Lubinsky with Mayor Moshe Lion Avraham Lubinsky with Isaac (Bougie) Herzog, (l-r Jeff Daube, Avraham Lubinsky, Deputy Mayor Rochberger Chairman of the Jewish Agency and Harvey Schwartz)

Police Commander “Niso” with Jeff Daube, ICHH ICHH delegation meeting with senior police officials responsible for the security of Har Hazeitim

(L-R) Co-chairman of ICHH Menachem Lubinsky, ICHH delegation meeting with Chief Rabbis Yitzchak Yosef and Dovid Lau Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Minister of Housing and Construction, Yoav Galant, and MK Yoav ben Zur 12 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAR HAZEITIM Former Mayor Addressing Mission the Mission Particpants on TourMission Particpants Mayor Moshe ICHH in Lion his meeting office officials (L-R) ICHH Schwartz,Chairman Harvey Israel Chapter, Menachem Lubinsky, Mayor Daube, Lion and Jeff Co-chairman ICHH Israel Chapter

delegation of the International Committee for Har Hazeitim. fordelegation Har Hazeitim. International of the Committee Menachem Prime Lubinsky the for Minister thanking his Dr. Paul Rosenstock (right) MK Rabbi Yoav with Zur, ben Prime Benjamin Minister Netanyahu large the greets chairman of the Knesset Caucuschairman Knesset of the on Har Hazeitim President ICHH, the Reuven with Rivlin meeting headed byheaded Menachem and Avraham Lubinsky ICHH and Dov (left) Fishoff Board members support of effort the support

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR

Chief Rabbi LetterYitzchak of supportYosef, the to Rishonthe ICHH Letzion from

Letter of support from MK Yoav ben Zur, Letter of support from Mayor Moshe Lion Chairman of the Knesset Caucus on Har Hazeitim 14 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAR HAZEITIM Malachi. The emotions of being on such asite gripping are of the because names our nation’s NEARLY 2,000 YEARS AFTER THE SECOND TEMPLE SECOND THE AFTER YEARS NEARLY 2,000 The new magnificentVisitor Education Center will allow visitors to journey through almost E 3,000 years of Jewish dating history back to the biblical prophets Haggai, Zechariah and (ALSO KNOWN(ALSO HAR HAZEISIM—ASHKENAZIC AS (BEIT HAMIKDASH) WAS DESTROYED IN 3831. PRONUNCIATION—OR THE MT. AS OLIVES) OF Vi duca IS BEING BUILT ON HAZEITIM HAR C A new major new A ent er greatest legends suddenly come alive. s i t or t ion ion s

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR 16 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAR HAZEITIM IN TERN AT IONAL COMM • • • • • Hazeitim: Har on project signature the be will Center Education Visitor The new life entire the to area million ayear, –2million 1.5 tourists Attracting bringing significance Mountain the of Educating worldwide of historic Jews others and the Reaffirming Jewishsovereignty the on oft-disputedarea holiest sites of sacredness of one Reviving historical Judaism’s the area entire the and Har Hazeitim to Ushering anew area of security IT TEE FO R Education Center Education The Visitor The GROUNDBREAKING 2020 GROUNDBREAKING OPENING 2021 OPENING • • • • • • including: of visitors, of thousands hundreds serve will center multi-purpose The Hazeitim to Jews whereas they previously Jews to whereas Hazeitim coveted Christians of to asite holy Olives Mt. as the Foreign Touristsnon-Jewishtime will first appreciation –Foran gain the tourists the significanceof Har of appreciate significance the of ancient Jerusalem to Jerusalem of routinely IDF, visit who East men the enlisted Members well as as new recruits particularly historic Jerusalem of on education their will who part from include Center schools throughout country the Students the as of Jewish the people history the and of hallowed the mountain history from the learn more to about world around seeking the Jewish tourists million including each Israelis 2.5 visit who year some Jerusalem Israeli tourists, Families of including loved for burial looking site Hazeitim, Har of on those the relatives buried ones their

Inside the Visitor Education Center Scheduled Opening 2021

GROUND FLOOR • Entrance and model/map of Har Hazeitim GROUND FLOOR • Video presentation on history of Har Hazeitim • Restrooms • Management Office • Ticket Office • Gift Shop • Maintenance Room • Cemetery Authority • Sanitation Room • Police Station: camera monitors, daily record, offices

FIRST FLOOR • Research Room: maps of Har Hazeitim and computers to assist in locating gravesites • Library: books on Har Hazeitim FIRST FLOOR • Guidance: maps and print-outs of specific trails (i.e. historic, Gedolim, Israeli leaders, IDF) — to be staffed by experts • Events and All-Purpose Room—Capacity 60 people— can also be used for minyanim • Technology Room: audio, visuals and other equipment • Family Room

ROOFTOP • Gardens and Sitting Area • Cafe: light fare, soft drinks and snacks • Amphitheater: for up to 100 people ROOFTOP 18 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HAR HAZEITIM T built in Jerusalem. Jews from world around havebuilt the in Jerusalem. the O J As a full partner with the Municipality of Jerusalem, the the of Jerusalem, Municipality the with afull partner As Jerusalem Development Authority, and Israel’s Ministry DevelopmentJerusalem Authority, Israel’s and Ministry million for one of the most historic projects evermillion be to for projects historic of most one the opportunity to perpetuate the memory of aloved one memory the to perpetuate opportunity be a statement to your family, astatement be government Israeli the opportunity to become a partner in this monumental in monumental this apartner become to opportunity of committed Jews and others to the sacredness and and sacredness the to Jews others and of committed and the Jewish community of your commitment and and of your commitment community Jewish the and or noted figure by dedicating one of the many parts many one the parts of figure by dedicating noted or of Jerusalem Affairs, the ICHH is seeking to raise $10 ICHH the $10 raise to is seeking Affairs, of Jerusalem project that will stand as testimony ageneration to as thatproject will stand of magnificent this building. will participation Your support to Jewish history and future in Jerusalem. Jerusalem. in future and history to Jewish support Partners to Jerusalem’s History will have will the to Jerusalem’s History Partners PAR future of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). HI ERU GOAL: $10 MILLION $10 GOAL: ST T of We for We less for Olives. dono us. less dono them. can can final place whose resting hundreds of Mountthe the is thousands how large small, or you will give great honor, to respect and dignity are simply unacceptable.inaction Byyour involvement, matter no become a friend and supporter. consequences The of apathy and and Jew. every means “united” joinAnd effort this So, please VOICE A 150,000 JEWS FINALLY GET of Jews everywhere. support active If we future,we the will are secure to need its effort. preservation of historic this aclaim part should be and Har Hazeitim to has Jew, Every sacredour most sites. (regardless of background) (First Second Temples) and it is so today we reclaim as of one counted Jew days in was the every Hamikdash of as Beit Just the JERUSALEM OF INTEGRITY THE NER S Y OR AL EM S S

'S INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR Interna 1226 EAST 10TH1226 STREET EAST • 718-854-4450 718-854-4450 f or H [email protected] tiona IN TERN ar H ar AT IONAL COMM • HARHAZEISIM.ORG l BROOKLYN 11230 NY azei C IT TEE FO ommi R t im ttee

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