A large stone, approximately 5 tons in weight, that was once part of the Kosel and had been displayed in the Knesset, has been relocated to an exhibition at Ben Gurion Airport. This move has prompted Rav Shmuel Rabinovich, the rov of the Kosel, to call for its return to its original position among the other stones of the Kosel. The Israel Antiquities Authority, however, maintains that the stone was removed from the Har Habayis.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Knesset, the Deputy Minister of Transportation, the Director General of the Ministry of Heritage, and the Director General of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Rav Rabinovich stated: “The stones of the Kosel are sacred, and with all the desire to present Jewish history and the heritage of Israel, Kosel stones should not be removed for this purpose.”
He further emphasized: “There is no place for a stone from the Kosel in the Knesset or anywhere else. Its place is among the stones of the Wall, stored next to the Kosel.” Concluding his letter, Rav Rabinovich demanded the immediate return of the stone from the airport to its rightful place next to the other stones of the Wall.
The stone, originating from the Old City of Yerushalayim, is part of the “Eternity of Israel” exhibition, which opened on Wednesday in the Departures Boulevard at Terminal 3 of Ben Gurion Airport. The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced that the exhibition will remain on display in the Departures Boulevard at Ben Gurion Airport until the end of 2025.
Simultaneously, the Foreign Ministry plans to send a stone from the Kosel abroad. Last month, it was revealed that the Foreign Ministry intends to transport a stone from the Kosel to Japan for display at the Osaka Expo fair, a major event expected to attract about 28 million visitors over approximately six months. The stone will be removed from the southern area of the Kosel with the assistance of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The cost of transporting the Kosel stone to Japan is estimated at $32,525 for a round trip.
The Expo is scheduled to open on April 13 in Osaka. A preliminary delegation from the Foreign Ministry has already visited the site to prepare for the construction of the Israeli pavilion.
{Matzav.com Israel}