The Ibrahimi Mosque, also known to Jews as the Cave of Machpelah or the Tomb of the Patriarchs, is an ancient and deeply sacred site located in the heart of the Old City of Hebron. It is revered by Muslims, Jews, and Christians as the burial place of the patriarchs and matriarchs of their faiths: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. The massive, fortress-like structure that encloses the sacred caves is one of the oldest continuously used holy buildings in the world. Its long and complex history is reflected in its architecture, and it remains a powerful symbol of shared heritage and a focal point of ongoing conflict.

Name and Address

• Name: Ibrahimi Mosque (for Muslims); Tomb of the Patriarchs or Cave of Machpelah (for Jews and Christians).
• Address: Old City, Hebron, Palestine.

How to Get There

Visiting the site is complex due to the political situation and the strict security arrangements in Hebron’s Old City.

• Access: The site is physically divided, with separate entrances for the mosque and the synagogue. Access is controlled by Israeli military checkpoints. Visitors must pass through security screenings to enter either side.
• Guided Tours: The most common and recommended way for international visitors to see the site is through a guided tour. Many tour companies, such as Abraham Tours or Green Olive Tours, offer “dual narrative” tours from Jerusalem or Bethlehem that provide access to both the Palestinian-controlled and Israeli-controlled parts of Hebron and the holy site itself.
• Visitor Tip: Due to the sensitive and tense environment, it is crucial to be respectful and aware of your surroundings. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees. Women will be provided with head coverings to enter the mosque section.

Landscape and Architecture

The site is dominated by a massive, ancient enclosure that has been modified over millennia by different rulers and faiths.

• The Herodian Enclosure: The most prominent architectural feature is the immense, rectangular stone wall that surrounds the site. This enclosure was built by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC, using his signature massive, finely dressed stone blocks, some of which are over 7 meters long. This ancient wall is the foundational structure of the entire complex.
• Byzantine and Crusader Church: In the Byzantine era, a church was built within the enclosure. The Crusaders later rebuilt this into a large Romanesque-style basilica in the 12th century. The core of the main prayer hall today still reflects this Crusader design.
• Mamluk and Ottoman Mosque: After Saladin recaptured the city, the building was converted back into a mosque. The Mamluks and Ottomans made significant additions, including the ornate minbar (pulpit) gifted by Saladin, which is one of the oldest Islamic wooden pulpits still in use, and the cenotaphs that mark the symbolic locations of the tombs.
• The Cenotaphs and Caves: Inside, both the mosque and synagogue sections contain large, ornate cenotaphs (symbolic tombs) for the patriarchs and matriarchs. The actual burial caves are believed to be located beneath the structure, and small grates in the floor allow visitors to peer down into the darkness of the sacred caverns below.

What Makes It Famous

The site’s fame is rooted in its profound significance as the final resting place of the foundational figures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• Burial Place of the Patriarchs: Its supreme claim to fame is being the traditional burial site of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives. As Abraham is a revered prophet and patriarch in all three monotheistic faiths, the site holds immense religious importance for billions of people worldwide.
• A Shared and Divided Holy Site: It is one of the most stark and tangible examples of a shared holy site that is also physically divided. Since the 1994 massacre at the mosque, the building has been partitioned into a Muslim section (the Ibrahimi Mosque) and a Jewish section (the Tomb of the Patriarchs synagogue), with separate entrances and strict access controls.
• Ancient Herodian Architecture: The massive stone walls built by Herod the Great are a marvel of ancient engineering and one of the best-preserved Herodian structures in existence.
• A Microcosm of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The intense security, the division of the holy site, and the presence of Israeli settlements in the heart of Hebron’s Old City make the Ibrahimi Mosque a powerful and sobering symbol of the ongoing conflict.

Differences from Other Wonders

The Ibrahimi Mosque / Tomb of the Patriarchs is unique among the world’s holy places.

• Shared Patriarchal Tomb vs. Specific Event Sites: Unlike the Church of the Nativity (Jesus’s birth) or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jesus’s death and resurrection), this site is not focused on a single event but on the eternal resting place of the shared forefathers of three faiths. Its significance is genealogical and foundational.
• Physical Division of a Single Building: While other sites in Jerusalem have complex sharing arrangements (the “Status Quo”), the Ibrahimi Mosque is unique in its stark physical partitioning. A wall runs through the middle of the ancient structure, creating two separate, sealed-off places of worship. This makes it a powerful symbol of division in a way other shared sites are not.
• Herodian Fortress Architecture: The massive, fortress-like Herodian enclosure gives the site a unique architectural character. It feels more like an ancient fortress than a typical mosque or synagogue, reflecting its long history as a protected, and often contested, space.