Thousands rest here. In Samboski Cemetery on Mount Zion. This is their final resting place. A place of quiet dignity. A place of forgotten stories.
Samboski Cemetery. Its history is shrouded in mystery. For centuries it served Jerusalem’s poor. Those who couldn’t afford burial on the Mount of Olives. Their final resting place. A somber testament to the city’s less fortunate. The cemetery’s origins are unknown. No official records mark its beginnings. We only know it existed. Rabbi Mordechai of Roistitz mentioned a cemetery on Mount Zion in 1616. Rabbi Gedaliah of Simiatitz confirmed its existence. Calling it old. Ancient. Dating back to unknown times. Samboski is likely the place he described. The only cemetery in that location. One with caves.
The oldest known grave belongs to Moshe Ben Yakir. He died in 1637. This is a marker in the long history of Samboski Cemetery. More stones surfaced after the Six Day War. Some dated back to 1785 and 1792. Proof of Jewish burials there. For hundreds of years. Despite being outside the city walls.
Neglect marred Samboski Cemetery. Tombstones were destroyed. Used as building materials. The British Mandate era witnessed widespread damage. The Jordanian period continued the destruction. The Jordanian army even used the stones. Locals used the area as a shortcut. Defiling the graves. Trampling on the dignity of the dead.
After the Six Day War things started to change. But neglect continued. The cemetery was used for parking. Vehicle repairs. Even horse stables were established. Illegal buildings arose. The neglect was severe.
But hope emerged. Restoration began. The City of David joined the effort. Along with the Jerusalem Municipality and others. The work was extensive. Removing construction waste. Cleaning the area. Repairing damaged tombstones. Placing new ones. The cemetery was fenced for protection.
In February 2023 a state memorial ceremony was held at Samboski. A first. Honoring the unknown deceased buried there. This was a momentous occasion. A recognition of the cemetery’s significance. A tribute to the forgotten.
Doron Herzog. A Jerusalem guide and researcher. He dedicated his life to restoring Samboski. A testament to his dedication and the significance of the site.
Look around. Thousands of souls lie beneath our feet. Their stories may be lost to time. Yet their presence remains. A powerful reminder of Jerusalem’s past. Of the lives lived. The struggles endured. And the quiet dignity of their final resting place. In Samboski Cemetery.