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Last update - 09:58 17/01/2008 Archaeologist hid 'Jesus tomb' for fear of anti-Semitism, widow says By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Jesus, Israel, Jerusalem  The widow of the archaeologist who discovered the tomb in Talpiot that some believe to be that of Jesus of Nazareth, explained Wednesday in Jerusalem to a gathering of senior archaeologists and other scholars why her husband kept his discovery a secret. In an emotional voice, Ruth Gat said that Yosef Gat, a Holocaust survivor, was afraid a wave of anti-Semitism would ensue if he did so. Speaking at the three-day Third Princeton Symposium on Judaism and Christian Origins at Mishkenot She'ananim in the capital, Gat also said, "I thank God his fears did not come true in light of the discovery of the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth." "As a boy, he wandered around the lion's den of occupied Poland," she also said. "The memory of those days never left him. It was one of the things that held him back as an archaeologist and that was also the reason for his great caution." Advertisement Yosef Gat worked as an inspector for the Israel Antiquities Authority for 27 years. He uncovered some 400 sites in the Negev and many other sites in Jerusalem. The cave was uncovered in 1980, but was not made public until the mid-1990s. Last year, the story became widely known with the release of the documentary film >"The Lost Tomb of Jesus" The film presents a cave uncovered in 1980 during construction work on an apartment building in the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Talpiot. The tomb contained 10 ossuaries. Hebrew letters were inscribed on some, including those Jacobovici says should be read: Yehuda bar Yehoshua, Matya, Yose, Maria, and Yeshua bar Yehosef. The bones of 35 individuals were also uncovered, interred over three to four generations. "I fell off the chair," Jacobovici said Wednesday following Gat's presentation. "She said the leading archaeologist, who I thought had claimed it was nothing, actually thought he had discovered the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth, and as a Holocaust survivor was afraid it might lead to anti-Semitism." Although most of those who spoke at Wednesday's seminar said it was possible the tomb was that of Jesus, Jacobovici's film was taken with a grain of salt. "What Simcha did was good work, as long as it stays in the right perspective," said archaeologist Professor Shimon Gibson of the University of North Carolina. "We, the archaeologists and the historians, spend our lives trying to evaluate the information collected over time. The journalist, however, makes one film and moves on." Professor Israel Knohl of Hebrew University said Wednesday that he saw no reason not to evaluate the tomb as Jesus' family tomb, although there was no unambiguous proof. He said surrounding caves should be excavated in order to obtain more proof, and explanations for various contradictions in existing evidence should be sought. For example, Knohl said the tomb might not be impressive despite the fame of those purported to be buried there, because tombs were considered a source of great impurity. Other significant contemporaneous figures were also buried in unadorned tombs, with no evidence that they had become destinations of pilgrimage. He said it was not surprising that the tomb, despite its presumed famed occupants, was forgotten. "Jerusalem was destroyed almost entirely at that time, and only a few people were left in the city." The cave currently serves the residents of a nearby building as a storage place for worn Torah scrolls. A short time after its discovery in 1980, the bones and the ossuaries were reintered at a Jewish cemetery. Under pressure from the ultra-Orthodox, they were never studied and their age was never determined. Following the pressure, it was also decided to seal another tomb found nearby in which a number of complete ossuaries were found, and apartments were built above it. In response to arguments by scholars against his film, Jacobovici said Wednesday that it was a great honor that such an august group had gathered to discuss the matter. He said that when they made the film, the feeling of the public and the scientific community was that there was no chance it was the tomb of Jesus. Now, Jacobovici said, the consensus is that it might be true. Related articles: Archeologist: King Herod's tomb desecrated, but discovery 'high point' Christmas 2006: Is Jesus still a Palestinian? The battle over Rabbi Nachman's tomb Bookmark to del.icio.us   Vision of cooperation Saudi prince says if Israel leaves Arab land, it could join the Arab world. At odds with PM Bolton says the final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce talks.   1.   Wild Dreams 10:14  |  Bandar Michaels 17/01/08   2.   Cheap publicity and deception 10:47  |  Isca 17/01/08   3.   Over thinking the problem 11:11  |  Natallie Durson 17/01/08   4.   #2 Cheap publicity and deception 11:27  |  Mike 17/01/08   5.   I suppose it`s important to some Jews 11:33  |  Clickfool 17/01/08   6.   I`ve seen the documentary,the reason it`s taken w/a grain of salt 11:42  |  Virginia 17/01/08   7.   What makes the most sense with regard to this discovery... 11:52  |  Virginia 17/01/08   8.   Not very scientific behaviour or? 11:55  |  Mars 17/01/08   9.   #1Christians manipulating Jewish religion 12:05  |  HS 17/01/08   10.   #8 "potential proof of Jesus existence?" 12:16  |  Mike 17/01/08   11.   What a shame this was not studied further. 12:20  |  B`Galil 17/01/08   12.   Christians manipulating Jewish religion 12:32  |  HS 17/01/08   13.   Hey Virginia, Newsflash: Jesus was Jewish Rabbi from the Galilee 12:37  |  B`Galil 17/01/08   14.   Under pressure from the ultra-Orthodox 12:40  |  SJ 17/01/08   15.   I can`t see... 12:48  |  MarkC 17/01/08   16.   6 Virginia,have you ever read the beautiful story by D.H.Lawrence 12:53  |  lakshmi 17/01/08   17.   The `Holy Spirit` has a weird way of... 13:00  |  Edith 17/01/08   18.   common Jewish names? 13:03  |  Edith 17/01/08   19.   Jesus: The Rock that cannot be shaken.I`m so glad He`s in my life 13:07  |  Selah 17/01/08   20.   Scientific objectivity 13:12  |  Davids 17/01/08   21.   #16 lakshmi is there evidence that... 13:15  |  Edith 17/01/08   22.   B`Galil, I agree. Should be studied. I also agree with Jesus` 13:21  |  Virginia 17/01/08   23.   TO CLICKFOOL #5 13:23  |  dovale 17/01/08   24.   No lakshmi, never read it. Have you ever read The Eye Witness 13:29  |  Virginia 17/01/08   25.   B`Galil - History? 13:30  |  Davids 17/01/08   26.   lakshmi, a book I would recommend is "The Case For Christ" by 13:37  |  Virginia 17/01/08   27.   Lakshmi - fiction 13:37  |  Davids 17/01/08   28.   Yes Edith, Jesus was a fairly common name then. 13:39  |  B`Galil 17/01/08   29.   Click @ # 5, Not all, I worship Him with many 14:16  |  Virginia 17/01/08   30.   A response to Clickfool - #5 14:25  |  Kate 17/01/08   31.   Israeli`s complain about the 14:28  |  Paul Wood 17/01/08   32.   The issue is NOT that many may see it this way, the issue is, 14:40  |  does God? 17/01/08   33.   The discovery of Jesus`s tomb 14:46  |  Paul Wood 17/01/08   34.   Okay, maybe four...I gave thanks for David`s lamp left before God 14:50  |  in Jerusalem 17/01/08   35.   To VIRGINIA # 23 15:08  |  dovale 17/01/08   36.   these stories are good for comic books if 15:18  |  nobodysacred 17/01/08   37.   What a lot of rubbish. It is highly unlikely, the evidence... 15:24  |  De 17/01/08   38.   Political and religious fanatics trump science 15:38  |  Mark Lincoln 17/01/08   39.   dovale, please do share, a reason as yet unheard? 15:40  |  Virginia 17/01/08   40.   With eyes tightly closed to the Messianic Israelis growing in # 15:58  |  Virginia 17/01/08   41.   35.little white dove? actually i agree with you on this 16:01  |  muslim 17/01/08   42.   monkey see monkey do 16:16  |  just faith 17/01/08   43.   33Paul Wood,Virginia,David et al,Virginia & David while I admire 16:19  |  lakshmi 17/01/08   44.   Jesus of Nazareth 16:22  |  Brod 17/01/08   45.   To Muislim #41 16:31  |  dovale 17/01/08   46.   to understand think "outside the box" 16:36  |  cory 17/01/08   47.   45.little white dov not feeling well? 16:41  |  muslim 17/01/08   48.   anti-semites, like Gnat Dursley of LA 16:44  |  akiva (zionist) 17/01/08   49.   #6 and where was it written down virginia? 17:00  |  v hardman 17/01/08   50.   #40 Virginia: Jews HAVE (a) G-D ! Please, respect this! 17:08  |  AliciaYasmeen 17/01/08   51.   #31 Paul Wood 17:09  |  Chris Linthwaite 17/01/08   52.   Muslim#41 - you speak of admiration for Jesus 17:22  |  William 17/01/08   53.   #31 Paul Wood: Judaism forbids idolatry ! 17:41  |  AliciaYasmeen 17/01/08   54.   ´B´GALIL 17:42  |  JoSE mARCIO 17/01/08   55.   50. very good aliciayasmeen!! i agree 17:49  |  muslim 17/01/08   56.   Virginia #22 - Everyone is a son of man 17:55  |  B`Galil 17/01/08   57.   53. alicia is not lusting for a temple on al aksa site 17:59  |  muslim 17/01/08   58.   #25 - No Evidence of Jesus ever wanting to start a new religion 18:02  |  B`Galil 17/01/08   59.   Yeshua`s Tomb 18:33  |  Glory 17/01/08   60.   I`ve seen Simcha`s "Naked Archaelogist" 18:34  |  Gina 17/01/08   61.   #53 Alicia Yasmeen 19:20  |  Paul Wood 17/01/08   62.   #57 Muslim: aleikum salaam 19:21  |  AliciaYasmeen 17/01/08   63.   B´GALIL 19:35  |  Jose Marcio 17/01/08   64.   Geza Vermes 19:52  |  dksjksjd 17/01/08   65.   62. actually alicia it was the romans who set the jews 22:12  |  muslim 17/01/08   66.   #20 Davids 22:20  |  Franco 17/01/08   67.   #21 Virginia 22:26  |  Franco 17/01/08   68.   #33 Paul Wood 22:36  |  Franco 17/01/08   69.   Kate 23:13  |  AMERICAN CHRISTIAN 17/01/08   70.   Would create anti-semitism 23:15  |  AMERICAN CHRISTIAN 17/01/08   71.   Jew should thank god for the Christians 23:18  |  ME 17/01/08   72.   62. Alicia 23:37  |  muslim 17/01/08   73.   #65 Franco of Roma 23:45  |  Paul Wood 17/01/08   74.   kate 30 01:58  |  realism 18/01/08   75.   Muslim and whiz of history 02:04  |  AliciaYasmeen 18/01/08   76.   Jesus tomb 03:29  |  Lynn 18/01/08   77.   Archaeologist hid Jesus Tomb for fear of anti-Semitism, widow sa 03:33  |  Kathleen Converti 18/01/08   78.   Alicia @ 50, Meant no disrespect. Disrespected is how people feel 03:45  |  when 18/01/08   79.   B`Galil @ 56, I think you`re missing the point made by His 04:12  |  Virginia 18/01/08   80.   haha yes because religion always knows best 05:47  |  B. 18/01/08   81.   Keep doing great films 11:33  |  Jerusalemite 18/01/08   82.   B, intellectual & spiritual are indeed two different "levels". 11:39  |  Selah 18/01/08   83.   What is the message of the Gospels? 14:14  |  Selah 18/01/08   84.   ""Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit" says 15:09  |  His Word 18/01/08   85.   #13 - B`Galil 15:47  |  Theodor 18/01/08   86.   Paul Wood, #31 Paul Woodn`t 19:01  |  FOX 18/01/08   87.   75. my dear cousin alicia, salaams, mosaic law 19:50  |  muslim 18/01/08   88.   clickfool #17 20:20  |  Gary 18/01/08   89.   Archaeologist Find "Jesus" 21:02  |  Jenni`fer 18/01/08   90.   JESUS = EXAMPLE THAT WE DON`T LIVE FOREVER IN FLESH BODIES 22:20  |  John 18/01/08   91.   Gospel = not having to physically die to know G-d. 22:28  |  John 18/01/08   92.   Flesh is born of flesh, by flesh methods 22:31  |  John 18/01/08   93.   Jesus tomb 13:16  |  manu 19/01/08   94.   SMOKE & MIRRORS, JESUS FAMILY ALIVE AND WELL IN SOUTHERN FRANCE 16:51  |  AARON 19/01/08   95.   Cheap Frauds 02:33  |  Efox 20/01/08   96.   jEsUs wAs A ChRiStIaN 05:50  |  Bruce Of Crossharbor 20/01/08   97.   The legacy of the unbelieving west 06:57  |  stork 20/01/08   98.   More to read up on 08:11  |  stork 20/01/08   99.   Yhe tomb? 13:16  |  andrea 20/01/08   100.   #33 - Paul Wood 14:18  |  JES 20/01/08   101.   #49 Hardman - actually... 17:24  |  Len Viola 20/01/08   102.   #50 Alicia Yasmeen - there are 4 Gospels ... 17:37  |  Len Viola 20/01/08   103.   Bruce @ 96, "Christian" do not come to be until AFTER assension 20:56  |  Virginia 20/01/08   104.   Who gives a F 21:30  |  Yechiel 20/01/08   105.   Gospel is not even sure what color shirt Jesus had during the Pa 21:34  |  Realist 20/01/08   106.   Re. destruction of 1st Temple and 2nd 22:35  |  stork 20/01/08   107.   What else are Jewish archaeologists hiding, faking or destroying? 23:02  |  Israel_is_Done 20/01/08   108.   Mark C and Virginia?let me spell it out for you. 23:41  |  Petunia 20/01/08   109.   Amen Stork!!! No other claiming to be Messiah could make such a 00:01  |  Virginia 21/01/08   110.   Virginia is a B 02:54  |  Yechiel 21/01/08   111.   All nonsense 03:25  |  ron benjamin 21/01/08   112.   #104 06:48  |  Len Viola 21/01/08

Today Online PM: Israel won't let Gaza fall into humanitarian crisis Responses: 110 Poll: Only 16% of Israelis back Diaspora input on fate of J'lem Responses: 27 Source: Israel won't free 2/3 of prisoners demanded by Hamas Responses: 20 Israel launches new satellite bolstering ability to spy on Iran Responses: 10 Gideon Levy: The mass killing in Gaza is just hurting both sides Responses: 21 Editorial: Israel musn't give in to Nasrallah's provocations Responses: 2 Rosner's Domain Domain's guest: Americans must help improve Israel's education system Why Huckabee worries the Jewish voter 67% of Nevada Jews voted for Clinton Meadow Soprano is more proud of Israel than the US (WTR) Blog & Poll: Can Joe Lieberman convince Jews in Florida to vote for McCain? More Headlines 13:26 PM: Israel won't let humanitarian crisis erupt in Gaza 12:24 Lebanon newspaper says it has photos of IDF soldiers' remains 12:59 Satellite launch bolsters ability to spy on Tehran 08:35 Source: Israel won't free 2/3 of prisoners Hamas wants released 05:08 Poll: Only 16% of Israelis back Diaspora input on fate of J'lem 12:49 ANALYSIS: New Israeli spy satellite sends Iran a message 13:05 IDF officer lightly wounded, militant killed in Tul Karm raid 01:58 Bolton: Final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce talks 06:16 PM works to pre-empt Labor revolt ahead of Winograd report 13:19 Knesset panel passes bill granting tax breaks to Sderot residents Previous Editions Select Day 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan

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