A dramatic budget crisis is threatening to force the complete closure of Me’aras Hamachpeilah just weeks before the Tishrei Yomim Tovim, with Israel’s Religious Services Ministry ordering preparations to shut the site within 14 days unless funding is restored.
The warning follows an interim order issued by the High Court of Justice freezing budget transfers that had been approved for the operation of holy sites. Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan says the order has left the ministry without an approved funding source to continue operating Me’aras Hamachpeilah and other sites overseen by the National Center for the Development of Holy Places.
In letters sent to senior officials, Avidan instructed them to prepare for the possibility that the National Center’s operations will cease at the beginning of September, while a separate urgent directive lays out preparations to close Me’aras Hamachpeilah entirely.
Avidan wrote to ministry Deputy Director-General Yisrael Deri and National Center comptroller Ora Doron that although the Knesset Finance Committee approved budget transfers needed to fund ongoing operations, Justice Alex Stein subsequently issued a temporary order blocking implementation of the transfers.
“Therefore,” Avidan wrote, “since without approval of the budget request the ministry has no budgetary source to maintain the ongoing operations of the National Center for the Development of Holy Places, I hereby inform you that if a solution is not found by the end of August, the operations of the National Center, including the various sites, will cease immediately at the beginning of September. Please prepare accordingly.”
In a second urgent letter addressed to Amitai Cohen, director of the Me’aras Hamachpeilah administration, and Uri Tzubari of the Kiryat Arba Religious Council, Avidan detailed the measures that would have to be taken if the funding crisis is not resolved.
According to Avidan, the Religious Services Ministry is responsible for financing and maintaining the day-to-day operation of Me’aras Hamachpeilah. However, the site’s operating budget is not incorporated into the permanent base of the state budget and instead relies almost entirely on coalition funds.
With those funds now frozen by the High Court, Avidan said the ministry has been left without an authorized source from which it can legally pay the expenses required to keep the site functioning.
“The ministry is not withdrawing and is not shirking its responsibility toward Me’aras Hamachpeilah, which is a heritage site of supreme religious and historical importance,” Avidan wrote. “However, in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel, and as a government ministry obligated to operate according to the rules of proper administration, the ministry is not permitted to allow or continue any contractual engagements without actual budgetary coverage.”
Avidan therefore ordered officials to immediately begin preparing for a complete shutdown of Me’aras Hamachpeilah within 14 days.
Under the contingency plan, all visitors, mispallelim and tourists would be barred from entering the site, and the gates of Me’aras Hamachpeilah would be locked.
Employees working at the site would receive termination notices, while contracts with outside companies and service providers responsible for cleaning, maintenance, transportation and other operations would also be discontinued.
All scheduled events, simchos, ceremonies and other activities at Me’aras Hamachpeilah would be canceled immediately, with organizers instructed to be notified that their events could no longer take place.
Officials were also ordered to urgently coordinate with the IDF, Israel Police and Border Police for the transfer of physical and security responsibility for the building to the security forces once the civilian security and crowd-management operations cease functioning.
Nonessential systems would be shut down, utility consumption would be disconnected or reduced where possible, and measures would be taken to protect the building and equipment throughout the closure.
The ministry would additionally issue public notices announcing that Me’aras Hamachpeilah is closed in order to prevent visitors and mispallelim from traveling to the site unnecessarily.
The potential shutdown comes at a particularly sensitive time, with the Tishrei Yomim Tovim approaching and large numbers of mispallelim traditionally visiting Me’aras Hamachpeilah during the period.
Avidan concluded his directive by expressing regret over the extraordinary situation while emphasizing that the ministry cannot legally continue operating without authorized funds.
“We deeply regret reaching this unfortunate situation, but as stated, the law requires us to take these steps until a solution is found and the necessary budgetary source is arranged by the authorities responsible for doing so.”
