Anyone up for a mitzvah? Ancient graveyard in Zfas The “Kadmoneinu” organisation has announced that wild animals are entering the famous old graveyard in Zfas, where the Bais Yosef and the Arizal are buried, as well as other rabbonim about whom the Bais Yosef said that they would have been worthy of being members of the Sanhedrin at the time of the Bais Hamikdosh. The animals dig underneath the ground to check if there is any more flesh or bones. They find bones rachmono liztlon and remove them from graves. Rav Sternbuch was horrified about these reports, and sent his son to check if they were true. His son reported back that he had seen an animal taking out a bone, and that in a cave in which the “Ma’ase Rokeach” is buried he found a tunnel which had been dug by the animals very close to the cave, and in the opinion of experts the animals have reached the actual catacomb where he is buried. Moreover, in the cave where the holy “Mevaser Tzion” is buried, he found animals who have taken up residence there, and in several places he could make out some tunnels which they had dug. According to Israeli law it is forbidden to poison animals, and this law is rigorously enforced. The barrier there is not enough to ward off the animals, because the ground is soft and it is easy for them to infiltrate the graveyard. The only solution is to deal with each grave on an individual basis, but this will take many years since there are so many graves in that graveyard. About 20 years ago when there was a similar problem in this bais olom, the late Satmarer Rebbe, Rav Moshe Teitelbaum zt”l, signed a letter appealing for works to be undertaken around each grave. When Rav Sternbuch met him sometime thereafter, Rav Teitelbaum told him that more than 1000 graves had already been renovated, and he added that although he had suffered from those who opposed his letter, it had all been worth it since he now had 1000 defense counsel above. Salvaging graves is a great mitzvah, comparable to a mes mitzvah, and everyone should participate in these activities as much as he can, because there is a dire need to take action. Donations may be made to “Kadmoneinu”, Mercantile Discount Bank, branch no. 635, Jerusalem, account number 39989.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 04:42:53 +0000
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