Cave of Letters

Located 200 meters above Nahal Hever valley floor, this natural limestone cave contains two entrance openings in the cliff face near Ein Gedi.

During the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 135 CE, Jewish refugees including women and children from Jonathan ben Ba'aya's family sought protection in this cave.

Letters discovered in the cave, written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, document the military operations and personal lives during the Jewish resistance against Roman rule.

Access to the cave requires specialized climbing equipment and permits from the Israel Antiquities Authority due to its location on steep cliff walls.

The cave yielded 70 documents, including correspondence from Bar Kokhba himself and the Babatha archive containing financial records from the second century.

Location: Tamar Regional Council

Location: Southern District

GPS coordinates: 31.43261,35.34291

Latest update: May 14, 2025 14:56