King David's Tomb — Attraction in Jerusalem

The Tomb of King David is one of the most sacred sites for the Jews. Nonetheless, according to the researchers, there is no certainty that this is in fact King David’s burial site. The bible mentions that King David was buried in the City of David, which is located at the foot of the Temple Mount. We know from the bible that some of the kings were buried in a place called the Garden of Uzza- but its location was not identified to this day.

The tradition that locates the Tomb of King David in this site was first documented in the 9th century by the Muslims and adopted over the years by many believers.

The structure that contains the grave is actually the “crypt”, the underground hall of the crusader church. The building was renovated into its current shape during the 14th century by Franciscan monks, the custodians of the Holy Land.

During the 16th century the Franciscan monks were expelled by the Muslims, and the building became a mosque, serving for hundreds of years as a prayer house for Muslims, who consider King David to be one of their prophets.

Today the site is visited mainly by Jews, and it is run in a synagogue model. The tombstone is in the interior room, with separate entrances for men and women. At the center of the room is a tomb covered by a cloth. On the back of the burial coffin you can see an alcove in the wall, perhaps a remnant of an ancient synagogue which was mentioned in the Byzantine era as one of the seven synagogues that were located on Mount Zion.

In the past, colorful tiles decorated the walls, when the place served as a mosque. These were Iznik tiles, named after the city in Turkey where they were manufactured 200 years ago. These tiles were shattered in an atrocious vandalism attack.

On the floor on top of the tomb there is the Cenacle, one of the sacred sites of Christianity. The external courtyard (on the exit from the tomb’s compound to the left) lays an interior courtyard surrounded by arches from the Franciscan monastery, which used to occupy this place during the 14th century. This kind of a closed courtyard is characteristic of many monasteries in Europe, known as “Cloisters”. The courtyards were meant to provide a quiet and safe place for monks and priests who lived in the church compounds. The rooms have small windows and they were built behind the vestibule. The roofed halls provided shelter from the rain and the access to the open air was through the main hall. A water well was dug under the courtyard. In monasteries or other churches, the courtyard serves for the cultivating of ornamental plants, vegetable gardens and even raising animals.

On the roof of the building there is an impressive observation point, and a mosque’s minaret, built by the Turks during the 16th century following the Christians’ expulsion from Mount Zion. The compound then became a “khan”- a guest house for caravans that arrived in Jerusalem after the closure of the city’s gates...

Visiting Kever Dovid HaMelech was an unforgettable and deeply moving experience. The atmosphere is filled with holiness and history, and being at the resting place of King David brings a powerful sense of connection to our heritage. The space is well cared for, welcoming, and inspires heartfelt tefillah.

What made the visit especially memorable were the festivities on Motzei Shabbos. As Shabbos ended, the kever came alive with song, dancing, and heartfelt joy. The melodies of Havdalah and lively niggunim echoed through the hall, creating a unique blend of holiness and celebration. Families, groups, and individuals joined together, transforming the space into a true gathering of unity and simcha. The energy was uplifting, carrying the warmth of Shabbos into the new week.

I highly recommend visiting, especially on Motzei Shabbos, to experience not just the holiness of the kever, but also the beautiful sense of community and celebration that...

Nelle vicinanze della porta di Sion, in Gerusalemme, a due passi dalla Basilica della Dormizione della Madonna, sorge un edificio a 2 piani dove : in basso, ad est, è presente una sala chiamata "tomba di David"; in alto, ad ovest, è presente una grande sala chiamata il "Cenacolo". La tomba del Re David è un luogo di culto sacro per ebrei, cristiani e musulmani. Le tradizioni di queste tre religioni monoteiste, infatti, si intrecciano sulla figura di questo Re, fondatore d'Israele, profeta dell'Islam e antenato di Gesù. Il tempio che oggi custodisce il sepolcro fu una piccola chiesa bizantina, utilizzata prima dai monaci francescani, poi dai musulmani nel XVI secolo. Successivamente, la chiesa divenne una moschea dedicata al Re Davide, per poi diventare, dopo la riforma dei crociati, una sinagoga che oggi accoglie i fedeli di tutte e tre le religioni. Una grande menorah, il candelabro a 7 bracci che rappresentano i 7 giorni della creazione, dorata, è ubicata all'ingresso della sala. Le zone di preghiera sono differenziate per uomini e donne, come stabilisce la tradizione ebraica. Il sepolcro con il sarcofago di Davide, è meravigliosamente coperto da una manto blu damascato con corone, lira e scritte dorate con iscrizioni in ebraico. Al piano superiore si trova il Cenacolo, il luogo dove Gesù ed i suoi Discepoli condivisero l'ultima Cena, prima della Crocifissione. La parola “Cenacolo” indica di per sé il luogo dove si cenava, ma più generalmente designava il piano superiore della casa dove si accedeva tramite le scale. Secondo l’uso degli antichi Romani era una stanza sempre piuttosto grande e serviva per la cena che era il pasto principale della giornata, al quale prendevano parte tutti i famigliari e gli ospiti eventualmente presenti. Nel contesto della narrazione evangelica si intende il piano superiore della casa perché traduce la corrispondente parola greca anágaíon che indica, appunto, la parte superiore ed ospitale della casa. Si presenta oggi come un enorme salone ricoperto di “monumentali” volte. E' possibile soffermarsi con i gruppi religiosi per riflettere, pensare, pregare, immergersi nei propri pensieri dipingendo mentalmente quel tavolo e tutti i componenti dell'Ultima Cena. Il Cenacolo di Gerusalemme è stato distrutto e ricostruito diverse volte nel corso dei secoli. Nella seconda metà del IV secolo la chiesa fu restaurata dal vescovo di Gerusalemme, Giovanni II (386-417). Da allora fu chiamata la...