Tabachnik Garden, National park and archaeological site on Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
Tabachnik Garden is a national park on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem containing Jewish burial caves from the Second Temple period, roughly between 530 BC and 70 AD. The site also encompasses the American Colony Cemetery and Bentwich Cemetery within its grounds.
Mount Scopus served as a necropolis outside ancient Jerusalem where affluent Jewish families interred their deceased in rock-cut tombs. The site later played a role during the 1967 conflict when military forces used the ancient burial chambers for practical wartime purposes.
A memorial wall honors Hebrew University students who died defending Israel, weaving together layers of Jewish memory across centuries. This modern remembrance stands among ancient tombs, creating a space where different periods of history meet.
Two observation points within the garden offer views toward the Dead Sea and the Temple Mount from elevated positions. The site is accessible on foot, and sturdy shoes are advisable for navigating the terrain and exploring the ancient burial structures.
The ancient Jewish burial chambers were repurposed as ammunition storage during the 1967 Six-Day War, revealing how historical structures became intertwined with modern conflict. This unexpected connection between biblical times and contemporary events gives the site an unusual historical layer.
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