Video: Rare Footage: The Grave of Mordechai and Esther in the Heart of Iran

The video is in Hebrew, but it's worth it just to see the pictures



Here is a translation of part of the article that goes with the video:

Rare footage: the grave of Mordechai and Esther in the heart of Iran

Rabbi Israel Gabay went to the country of Israel's most bitter enemy to pray at a site designated for demolition. Rabbi visited the tomb of the prophet Habakkuk in the city of Shushan, which is just one of his trips to locate graves in the Arab world. View headstones that have miraculously been saved.

Rabbi Israel Gabay arrived at Iran last week to tour and renovate tombs. He visited Bahamadane, south of Tehran to the graves Esther and Mordechai. "I saw neglect, places where they built a soccer field on the graves of the righteous", he describes some of the places visited.

Even the tomb of the prophet Habakkuk was visited by the Rabbi while in Iran. More precisely in the middle of traffic in the city square of Shushan, known to the Jews to be the city of King Ahasuerus. "Daniel is known as one of our greatest prophets, Muslims also believe in our Imam especially peace be upon him," said a Muslim praying place, alongside Rabbi Gabai.

He did not arrive in Iran by accident. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has threatened to destroy the graves and the television carries inciting statements. This is perhaps the last time the Rabbi Gabay will read Psalms in this place in the memory of Esther and Jacob. The Jewish community is trying to preserve the two graves. "God will protect us" said one community delegate to representative of the Iranian authorities. "The community is frightened and we must help them, pleaded Gabay.

Read the whole thing.


Technorati Tag: Purim and Mordechai and Esther.