First Publication: Rabbi of the Western Wall Demands Return of 'House of Tekiah' Stone

The Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, demands that the Israel Museum transfer to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation an ancient stone from the Second Temple period bearing the inscription 'House of Tekiah'. The stone is one of four original Western Wall stones scattered among various institutions in Jerusalem: the Knesset, the President's House, and the Israel Museum. On the eve of Tisha B'Av, the President of Israel approved the transfer of the stone from the President's House, thus returning the third stone. Now the fourth stone remains at the Israel Museum. The stone is unique due to its inscription describing the place where trumpets were blown to announce the entrance of Shabbat and holidays during the Second Temple period, as described in the writings of Josephus. The chief rabbis of Israel and the Rabbi of the Western Wall have been demanding the return of the stones for decades, citing the verse from Lamentations: 'How the gold has become dim, the fine gold changed! The sacred stones are poured out at the head of every street.' The Israel Antiquities Authority clarified that the legality of the stone's transfer to the museum in the past is unclear and made an unequivocal request for its return. Despite this, the Israel Museum continues to hold the stone contrary to the position of religious and archaeological authorities. Those involved in the matter emphasize that the return is a symbol of connection, preservation of the sanctity of the site, and historical rectification.