Visit Mount Herzl: Where Israel’s Legacy and Sacrifice Unite

A Cemetery Based on Jewish Values

The world stands on three pillars: Torah, divine service, and acts of kindness.
(Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 1, Mishna 18)

When planning the development of modern Jerusalem, the founders of the State of Israel symbolically embodied this teaching with a contemporary interpretation:

The State of Israel stands on three pillars:
– The political leaders who shaped the nation,
– The memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, and
– The soldiers who gave their lives in defense of the Jewish state.

One of the westernmost hills in Jerusalem is Mount Herzl, named after Theodor Herzl, the visionary of modern Zionism. Herzl, who tirelessly sought a homeland for the Jewish people amidst relentless anti-Semitism, passed away fifty years before his dream of a Jewish state was realized. Yet, his vision paved the way for the creation of Israel. His grave is located at the heart of Mount Herzl Cemetery.

National and Zionist Leaders Cemetery

The cemetery is divided into two sections, forming a crescent shape that meets in the middle. On one side are the graves of the Founders of the Nation: Israel’s prime ministers, presidents, and other prominent Zionist leaders. This section includes notable figures such as Golda Meir, Shimon Peres, and Chaim Herzog, as well as leaders of the World Zionist Organization. While there has been debate about who should be included, some leaders made personal decisions about their final resting place. For instance, David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, chose to be buried in the Negev desert at Kibbutz Sde Boker, while Menachem Begin, a former prime minister, requested to be buried alongside his fallen comrades on the Mount of Olives.

Military Cemetery

The other section of the crescent is the military cemetery, organized chronologically to reflect the wars Israel has been forced to fight for its survival. The graves are simple, in keeping with Jewish tradition, and are marked with black onyx for heads of state and white stone for soldiers. The only exception is the grave of Yitzhak Rabin, who served as both Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the IDF. His tombstone uniquely combines black and white stone to reflect his dual role.

As you walk through the beautifully landscaped cemetery, you will notice cypress and cedars of Lebanon trees planted throughout. The cypress tree, shaped like a memorial flame, symbolizes that the memory of the fallen will always burn bright. The cedar of Lebanon, a mighty tree, represents the strength and fortitude of those who gave their lives in service to the nation. Tragically, this section of the cemetery continues to grow, as more soldiers fall in Israel’s defense.

East to Navigate

Visitors can use an app to locate specific graves by section, row, and plot, ensuring a meaningful experience.

Kivrei Tzaddikim – The Graves of Holy People

A story is told of a young yeshiva student who asked his rabbi for permission to take a day off from his studies to visit the graves of holy men in the Galilee. When the rabbi asked why, the student explained that he wanted to honor the righteous who had passed. The rabbi responded, “You don’t need to go all the way to the Galilee. Go to Mount Herzl, where the soldiers who died defending our holy land are buried. They are just as holy as any righteous man buried in the north.”

Though this story may be apocryphal, it resonates deeply with the Jewish people and the Israeli spirit. The defenders of the land are honored as holy, for they gave their lives to ensure the survival of the Jewish nation.

Our prayer is that the hallowed ground of Mount Herzl will no longer see new graves and that Israel may know only peace—peace that endures, with no more need for sacrifice.

Esti Herskowitz is a licensed guide in Israel. Contact her for tours of meaningful sites at Esti.h.tours@gmail.com