Rabbi of the Kosel ....... Stones of the Kosel are Sacred

Rabbi of the Kosel Calls for Immediate Return of Kosel Stone from Airport Exhibition

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, Rabbi of the Kosel, has called for the immediate return of a sacred Kosel stone that was removed from the Kosel and transferred to an exhibition at Ben Gurion Airport 

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Knesset, the Deputy Minister of Transportation, the Director-General of the Heritage Ministry, and the Director-General of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Rabbi Rabinovitch expressed strong opposition to the stone’s relocation. “The stones of the Kosel are sacred,” he wrote, “and while the intention to showcase Jewish history and heritage is understood, removing Kosel stones for this purpose is inappropriate.”

The rabbi emphasized that the stone’s rightful place is among the other Kosel stones, not in a museum or public display. “A stone from the Kosel does not belong in the Knesset or any other location. It must remain preserved alongside the other stones of the Kosel,” he stated.

Rabbi Rabinovitch concluded his letter with a firm demand for the immediate removal of the stone from the airport and its return to its original designated sacred place.

The letter follows the unveiling of a new exhibition in Ben Gurion Airport’s departure hall, curated by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel Airports Authority, and the Ministry of Heritage. The exhibit showcases significant archaeological artifacts and rare historical photographs depicting Jewish continuity over 3,000 years. Among the displayed items is a five-ton stone from the Kosel, now at the center of the rabbi’s urgent appeal.

https://chabadinfo.com/news/rabbi-of-the-kosel-calls-for-immediate-return-of-kosel-stone-from-airport-exhibition/