Usually, cemeteries are not a tourist attraction, but there are a few exceptions. Trumpeldor Cemetery is one of them. Named after the street next to it, this old cemetery of Tel-Aviv is quite a unique document of Tel-Aviv’s history and, frankly, of all of Israel.

History of Trumpeldor Cemetery

Trumpeldor cemetery was established in 1902 for the burial of Jews living in Jaffa and Neve Tzedek. Among its first burials are the Jews who died in 1918, deported from Tel-Aviv by the Ottomans, as they suspected the Jews to be spying for the British. Two years later, the Jewish casualties of the Arab riots of 1920 were primarily buried in this cemetery.

The graveyard also became known as the burial site of some leading figures in Israel’s history and culture. Especially in its southwestern area is the burial of famous figures in Israel’s history: Meir Dizengoff, Tel-Aviv’s first mayor; Moshe Sharet, Israel’s second Prime Minister; Arlosoroff, Ahad Ha’am, Nordau, Bialik, Tchernichovsky, Gutman, Rubin, Shoshana Damari, Arik Einstein, and many more figures every Israeli is familiar with.

Touring Trumpeldor Cemetery

The Cemetery is open to all and is accessed from Trumpeldor Street. As in all Jewish graveyards, it is common for men to cover their heads during the visit and for all to wash their hands at the exit. Many will also put a small pebble over the tomb, a common Jewish tradition, expressing remembrance and respect for the deceased.

A tour of Trumpeldor Cemetery can be combined with a guided day tour of Jaffa and Tel-Aviv.