The Tomb of Onkelos

by Rabbi Ari Enkin

This story recently appeared on the Israeli news exposing a prank that a few Yeshiva bochrim pulled off in Jerusalem recently. Taking advantage of a site no one ever seemed to notice, these guys undertook some home made renovations and declared it to be the long lost Tomb of Onkelos the righteous convert. Complete with separate entrances for women and men, an authentic looking sign, and blue paint for a spiritual touch -- this prank even succeed in gathering the faithful for prayer in Onkelos' honor.....until they were caught. The lesson the pranksters were trying to send: Judaism is a religion of Torah and Mitzvot, not one of mystisicm and superstition.