Old Jewish Cemetery, Jerusalem

A large cemetery occupies the western and southern slopes of the Mount of Olives – the oldest continually used Jewish cemetery in the world. Since ancient times, people of Jewish religion have desired to be buried in this very place in the Holy Land since, according to the Bible, it is precisely where the resurrection of the dead will begin when the Messiah returns to Earth. Many characters from the past, some of whom are also mentioned in psalms and verses of ancient sacred texts, rest here.

Among the oldest tombs, at the foot of the Mount in the Kidron Valley, are those of Absalom, the son of David, and Zechariah, the priest of the First Temple, while other tombs have inscriptions bearing the name of families that lived 2,000 years ago. Burials have occurred continuously throughout history, with only a brief interruption during the period between the Arab-Israeli War and the Six-Day War (1948-1967). In Jewish tradition, visitors to the cemetery often place stones on the cenotaphs or gravestones instead of using flowers, as stones are symbolic of permanence and continuity. This gesture serves as a way to show that the deceased are not forgotten.

From the summit of the Mount of Olives, one can enjoy the most evocative panorama of the Holy City, with prominent landmarks such as the Dome of the Rock visible in the distance – an absolute must for first-timers to Jerusalem!