Ultra-Orthodox Jews Protest Removal of Ancient Remains

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews prayed in the streets Sunday to protest an archeological dig at a 2,000-year-old cave believed to contain the remains of ancient Jewish warriors.

The cave was unearthed two weeks ago northwest of Jerusalem by a bulldozer leveling ground for a new highway. Inside, archeologists found 24 stone boxes containing human remains.

The bones were turned over to Israel’s Ministry of Religious Affairs for reburial, but ultra-Orthodox Jews said any tampering with the remains violates Jewish law.

Archeologists believe the burial cave at the ancient city of Modin may have been used by descendants of the Maccabees or the Maccabees themselves, a tribe of Jewish warriors whose revolt is celebrated at Hanukkah.

On Sunday, thousands of black-hatted men in the traditional black robes and side curls of the ultra-Orthodox filled the streets of the religious Mea Shearim neighborhood, stopping traffic for almost three hours.

“Not even one of their fingernails will be disturbed,” read one prayer distributed during the gathering of about 4,000.

Amir Drori, director general of the Antiquities Authority, however, said the authority saved the graves by taking control before they were destroyed by the bulldozers.

The Maccabees lived in what is now central Israel. In the 2nd Century BC they conquered Jerusalem and reconsecrated the Temple in 165 BC, a feat celebrated by the Jewish Hanukkah holiday, which begins Dec. 17 this year.