Grave
Hoshea ben Be'eri
prophet
Grave of the prophet Hoshea ben Be'eri
Burial place - Tzfat, the old cemetery
The oldest known grave belongs to the prophet Hoshea ben Be'eri.
He was a disciple and follower of the prophets Elisha and Zechariah.
The Arizal's (zt”l) favorite place for prayer - His wife was not known for strict moral conduct, but he loved her so deeply that when she ran off with another man, he paid a ransom for her and brought her back home. At the same time, he kept her from associating with others, so that she could repent of her behavior and return, body and soul, to her loving and generous husband. These events can be understood both literally and as an allegory of the Creator's relationship - loving and generous - toward His people, who «betray» Him with the pagan god Baal.
Tradition tells us that the prophet died in Babylon but asked to be buried in the Holy Land.
A coffin with his body was placed on a camel and sent on its way. The camel reached Tzfat, where it was met by the local community. The Jews read the letter attached to the mournful burden and buried the prophet.
Local sources tell us that the Arizal often came here with his disciples to pray.
However, he believed this to be the grave of Yehoshua ben Chananya, one of the disciples of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai. Rabbi Yehoshua was known for his tolerance toward gentiles and believed that if they were righteous and devout, they could enter Paradise.
The Talmud relates that it was he who transmitted the hidden knowledge he received from his teacher, Rabbi Akiva.
May the merit of the tzadikim protect Am Yisrael!
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