In a landmark ruling, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation have announced that all stones from the Kosel HaMa’aravi currently scattered across various locations in Israel will be returned to their original location for genizah (burial), in accordance with the position of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
The decision comes in response to the recent transfer of a massive five-ton Kosel stone—believed to have fallen during the destruction of the Second Beis Hamikdash—for display at Ben Gurion Airport. The move drew strong opposition from the Chief Rabbinate and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which stressed that these stones are not archaeological artifacts to be exhibited, but sacred remnants that must be treated with halachic reverence and preserved as part of the sanctity of the Kosel.
On Tuesday, a pivotal meeting was held at the Kosel, bringing together senior rabbinic leaders and government officials, including the Chief Rabbis of Israel; the Rishon Letzion and President of the Rabbinical Courts, Rav Dovid Yosef; President of the Chief Rabbinate Council Rav Kalman Bar; Rav of the Kosel and holy sites Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz; Minister for Religious Services Michael Malchieli; Minister for Yerushalayim Affairs and Jewish Tradition Meir Porush; Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu; Director of the Antiquities Authority Eli Eskosido; Director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation Mordechai (Suli) Eliav; Director General of the Ministry for Religious Services Rabbi Yehuda Avidan; Director of the Chief Rabbinate Rabbi Yehuda Cohen; Director of the Yerushalayim and Jewish Tradition Ministry Shimi Elboim; along with representatives from the Antiquities Authority and the Jewish Quarter Development Company.
Prior to the meeting, the rabbonim and ministers visited the designated site where fallen Kosel stones from the time of the Second Bais Hamikdosh are respectfully preserved for genizah. Dozens of stones currently rest there in accordance with halachah. The leaders then convened in the office of the Rav of the Kosel, where the rabbonim reiterated their firm position that these stones are an inseparable part of the Kosel’s sanctity and must be treated accordingly.
Following the tour and deliberations, a unanimous decision was reached: all Kosel stones currently on display in places such as Ben Gurion Airport, the President’s Residence, the Kirya in Tel Aviv, the Israel Museum, and in Antiquities Authority warehouses will be removed from exhibition and respectfully interred alongside the other Kosel stones at their designated burial site. Additional safeguards will be implemented to protect the sanctity of the stones, including fencing off the genizah area and issuing public instructions prohibiting any use of the stones.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Eli Eskosido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, affirmed the agency’s commitment to religious sensitivity: “The Israel Antiquities Authority will act on matters of holiness in line with the position of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and accordingly, all the stones will be returned for genizah at their proper site beside the other Kosel stones.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
