Tomb of Rachel

The Tomb of Rachel is located near the entrance to Bethlehem on the Jerusalem-Hebron Road.

Genesis 35:19 reports that Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin while she and Jacob were traveling from Beth-El to Hebron and that a pillar was erected in memory of her on the way to Ephrath - that is, Bethlehem.

From the time of the Middle Ages the tomb has been venerated by Muslims, Jews and Christians. The present structure is the result of construction activities by the Crusaders in the thirteenth century, Muhammed Pasha of Jerusalem in the sixteenth century, and Moses Montifiore in the nineteenth century. 

The Tomb is controlled by the Israeli Army and used mostly by Jews who come from Jerusalem to pray there.

The Tomb of Rachel