Maimonides (anacronym for Moshe Ben Maimon), hebrew name Harambam (anacronym for Harav Moshe Ben Maimon), was born in Spain, lived and died in Egypt, and found his final resting place in Israel, Tiberias.
He was a medieval physician, philosopher, astronomer, sephardic rabbi - and his tomb is a place of pilgrimage .That's interesting, even ironic, as he himself was against pilgrimage to graves of rabbis. In fact, he was against the building of headstones. Probably, he would not have approved of the recent, vast renovation of the site (a matter of millions, received as a donation).
painting of Maimonides at te entrance shop
Last month , when I visited Tiberias, it was my first time at the site of the tomb.
It is located not far from the central bus station and the old town center. Actually, it's a complex which includes Maimonides' tomb the graves of some other famous rabbis, an Heritage Center (cultural-educational institution established to promote his teachings) , and a high sculpture which could be seen from afar. The little, narrow street itself is named Harambam in his honour.
tall sculpture at the site
Welcome sign at the entrance; behind tree , Heritage Center
Blue sign with the name of the street - Harambam
I knew the site had been undergoing big renovation for some time, but I thought it was all over; well, not quite. Dust, water on the stairs, lack of signage , noisy workers - were a bad start to my visit. I was afraid of slipping and falling, so I took the parallel set of stairs , near the other tombs, not the slippery one leading directly up to the hall where the tomb of Maimonides was.
wet, slippery stairs leading to the tomb; pillars on each side
Perhaps they should have closed the place for the whole period of renovation, since with all the work going on, it didn't look like a holy place. At the entrance, there was a kind of souvenir shop selling touristy stuff, which, in my opinion, cheapened the spiritual and religious atmosphere of the place. I felt sad about that.
souvenir shop at the entrance
The marble tomb of Maimonides is in the center of a big hall. His father's tomb lies by the wall on a slightly elevated floor. Nearby, an interesting blue, iron candle- house with a white big candle inside; on the iron work - a framed paper with a printed prayer to be read at the tomb.
Maimonides' marble tomb in the middle of the big hall
Me, at the father's tomb; a couple praying at Maimonides' tomb
blue, iron candle-house; white candle inside
framed prayer on the iron candlehouse structure
It was in the late afternoon hours, and there were few people there (the place, as far as I know, is usually crowded with visitors). I paid my respects to the great scholar and his father, and left.
People outside the tomb hall.
After leaving the place, I wanted to reflect on what I'd just experienced, and since I felt hungry I grabbed a shawarma (donner) in a pita pocket (my favorite fast food), at the Aloush eatery in the center, and got myself a chair at a red table outside. The red chairs and tables , and the tasty food, slightly cheered me up.
Aloush eatery - shawarma and felafel
red chairs and tables belonging to the fast food eatery Aloush
I hope the final outcome of the renovation will be successful and will do justice to the great personality of Maimonides.
At the entrance, on the gate, there was a round stone with an epiphany reading "From Moshe to Moshe arose no one like Moshe". The first Moshe (Moses) referred to, is the one that was given the Torah by God at Mt. Sinai.
epiphany on the entrance gate
