Do you find yourself in front of the Sanhedriyya? It is in Jerusalem, but not in the way you might think. You see, the Sanhedriyya is the name of a neighborhood, not an ancient building or a mosque. However, in this neighborhood, you can be right next to the ancient Tombs of the Sanhedrin, and it is this place that will truly intrigue you on your journey. The Tombs, located within a public park, are ancient rock-cut tombs. Many scholars believe that they were the burial place of the very members of the Great Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court that operated at the time of the Second Temple.
Imagine walking through the park. You pass by the intricately carved pediment above the entrance. You notice the rock-hewn benches, once used by grieving family members. The cave is fascinating. It’s filled with numerous niches, 63 in total. The niches are carved into the sides of the cave, some with intricate designs. What is fascinating is that these tombs were not simply empty spaces. It is believed that the niches would have contained sarcophagi for burials.
After the flesh would have decayed, the bones would have been collected and placed in ossuaries, smaller containers that were placed in vaults inside the complex. You are standing in a timeless place, right here in this park. This is where the history of the Sanhedrin, the heart of Jewish life, continues to resonate. The Tombs of the Sanhedrin are silent witnesses to the ancient history of this land and the grandeur of a lost civilization.