Holy Blood: Tomb of the Patriarch

The Most Sacred, The Most Volatile

The holiest sites are often the most explosive.

This is the story of the sacred sites in the Land of Israel, places where history stands still, yet continues to ignite the region's fiercest conflicts. These sites frequently dominate global headlines and dictate the political agenda of the Middle East. This is the epicenter of the conflict preventing peace between Jews and Palestinians: The Temple Mount, Joseph’s Tomb, the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Cave of Machpelah), and Rachel’s Tomb.

The series provides an intimate look at the spirit of sacrifice among both Jews and Palestinians, who do everything in their power to maintain their presence and proximity to what they hold sacred—even at the cost of erupting violence. It offers a rare, inside perspective on these holy sites and the believers dedicated to them by any means necessary.

Episode Description: The Tomb of the Patriarchs (The Cave of Machpelah)

The Tomb of the Patriarchs is a magnificent monument in eastern Hebron, with construction of the compound attributed to the era of King Herod. According to both Jewish and Muslim traditions, the cave is the burial place of the founders of both nations and religions: the Muslim Prophet Ibrahim and the Jewish Patriarch Abraham.

In the Quran, Ibrahim is a preeminent prophet; in the Torah, Abraham is the founding father of the Jewish lineage.

On Saturday, August 24, 1929, 66 Jews were murdered by Muslims in the Hebron Massacre. Decades later, Jewish settlers returned to the city to re-establish the Jewish presence. Hebron in general, and the Tomb of the Patriarchs in particular, remain focal points of constant friction between the two faiths. This episode follows believers and activists from both sides.