This is a black and white reproduction of an oil painting by the Israeli painter Munia Lander (1907–1971) showing the entrance steps to the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Cave of Machpela) in Hebron. This reproduction is from 1951, but the original painting was painted before 1940.
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The Tomb of the Patriarchs (Me'arat HaMachpela) - The Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron is the world’s oldest Jewish site. According to the Bible, Abraham purchased the land as a burial site for his wife Sarah. The biblical matriarchs and patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca, and Leah are also believed to be buried here. The fourth matriarch, Rachel, died in childbirth near Bethlehem and was buried there. The structure surrounding the Tomb of the Patriarchs was built in the Second Temple period by Herod. The Tomb of the Patriarchs is also a holy site for Muslims who, in the Byzantine period, declared it a mosque. The tomb is currently shared by Muslims and Jews, each with their own section.
Munia Lander - Munia Lander was born in Ukraine and moved to Israel in 1922. He studied at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. In 1926 and 1928, Lander participated in art exhibitions held at the Tower of David in Jerusalem. He signed the works with the name “Ben-Artzi.” During these years he won a prize for designing a cover for the Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) Golden Book – a collection of names of individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the JNF. The covers of the volumes are created by Israeli artists. There are currently 26 volumes of the Golden Book which are kept in the JNF offices in Jerusalem. Lander was a founder of the artists’ village Ein Hod.
The Bezalel Academy of Art and Design - The Bezalel Academy of Art and Design was established in 1906 and named for Bezalel, the craftsman tasked with building the tabernacle (mishkan) as described in the book of Exodus. Today Bezalel is a world renowned art school with over 2,000 students. The art created by its students and faculty in the early 1900s was considered the springboard for twentieth-century Israeli visual arts.
