Kiryat Shaul Cemetery

Over 80,000 souls rest in Kiryat Shaul Cemetery. It’s a place of quiet reflection, a solemn reminder of lives lived and lost. Established in 1943, Kiryat Shaul Cemetery became a necessity when the shadow of World War II loomed large and space in the Nahalat Yitzhak Cemetery dwindled. Kiryat Shaul Cemetery, spanning across 320 dunams, bears witness to Israel’s complex history. Here, amidst the traditional Jewish burial sites, lies a poignant reminder of the Holocaust’s devastating impact. Memorials stand tall, commemorating the Jewish communities of Brest, Bukovina, Minsk, Kraków, and countless others decimated by the Nazi regime. Their ashes, bones, and remnants, retrieved from the camps, are interred beneath these monuments. But Kiryat Shaul Cemetery also holds the remains of those taken by tragedy closer to home. The victims of the El Al Flight 402 crash in 1955 and the El Al Flight 1862 crash in 1992 find their final resting place here. And then there’s the story of Amos Yarkoni, a hero who served Israel with unwavering dedication. When he died in 1991, a debate erupted over his final resting place. Yarkoni wasn’t Jewish, and the strict Jewish burial laws presented a challenge. But Rehavam Zeevi, Yarkoni’s loyal friend, found a solution. He bought a plot for himself in Kiryat Shaul Cemetery, ensuring Yarkoni could be laid to rest at the end of the row, technically outside the designated Jewish section. This act of compassion highlights the respect and camaraderie that transcends religious boundaries, even in death. As you wander through Kiryat Shaul Cemetery, remember this story, a testament to the enduring power of friendship in a place where memories are etched in stone.