Chevron Visitors Pay Rare Visit to Tomb of Osniel ben Knaz

Over the day of Tisha B’av, thousands visited Mearas Hamachpela in Chevron, which was built in the same style as the second Beis Hamikdash. Towards the end of the day, a rare visit to the gravesite of Osniel ben Knaz was allowed.

By Anash.org reporter

Over the day of Tisha B’av, thousands visited Mearas Hamachpela in Chevron, which was built in the same style as the second Beis Hamikdash.

The large imposing stone building that stands today above the cave was built by Herod, who also commissioned the reconstruction of the second Beis Hamikdash. In fact, this building, with 6-foot-thick stone walls, is the only fully intact Herodian structure.

The connection between the Meara and the Beis Hamikdash, as well as the desire to daven at the resting place of the Avos and Imahos for the geulah, brings many to Chevron every year on Tisha B’av.

Towards the end of the day, a rare visit to the gravesite of Osniel ben Knaz was allowed. Osniel ben Knaz was the first shofet who judged the Yidden in Eretz Yisroel after the passing of Yehoshua bin Nun. An ancient tradition points to a burial cave in Chevron as being his final resting spot.

As the gravesite is in the part of Chevron which is unfortunately under “Palestinian” rule, entry to the grave is limited, with only occasional trips fully secured by the Israeli Army.