Centuries-Old Riddle: Where Did Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai Hide?

A historical-religious controversy has erupted recently between the municipalities of Lod and Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut over the identification of an ancient cave in Ben Shemen Forest as the hiding place of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi). The dispute began after Lod’s mayor, Yair Revivo, officially declared that the "Monks’ Cave" in the area is the true location where the famous Talmudic sage hid from the Romans, and announced the beginning of renovation and accessibility work there (reported on Lag BaOmer by "Kikar HaShabbat").

“We are facing a historic discovery of immense religious importance,” Revivo stated during the announcement. “This is a defining moment for the city of Lod and for Jewish heritage as a whole.”

The identification is based on several sources and testimonies, foremost among them a quote from the Zohar that mentions Rashbi "fleeing to the wilderness of Lod," now associated with the Ben Shemen Forest. Another source is a 1954 document from the Bar-Ilan University archive in which the then-Director General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs proposed renovating “the cave on the road from Lod to Modi’in mentioned in the Zohar.” In addition, geographer Ze’ev Vilnay (1927) and Dr. Shmuel Zilka (in recent times) have both proposed identifying the Monks’ Cave as Rashbi’s hiding place. The cave's current public recognition was revived by ultra-Orthodox historian Yisrael Shapira, with research assistance from scholar David Shapiro.

It is important to note that from an academic standpoint, this identification rests on very shaky grounds. Contrary to the myth embedded in religious communities, the Zohar was likely compiled by the kabbalist Moshe de León in the 13th century—more than a millennium after Rashbi’s time—thus rendering its geographic descriptions historically unreliable for events from the Tannaitic period.

The response from the Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut municipality to the revived “holy cave” narrative was not long in coming. In a firm statement, the municipality declared: “There is no basis or evidence to support the claims made by the Lod Municipality. The matter was even reviewed with the Israel Antiquities Authority and its director.” Modi'in emphasized that the cave lies within its municipal territory and that “no other entity will be allowed to spread false information or mislead the public.”

What deepens the controversy is the surprising contradiction in Modi'in’s own stance. On the city's official tourism website appears a description similar to the one Lod relies on: “The Zohar refers to this cave, called ‘Me’arata DeLod’ (Lod’s Cave, due to its proximity to Lod)... Another interpretation suggests that this is the cave where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son secluded themselves for many years.”

This double standard is telling—relying on the historical identification when it serves Modi'in’s tourism interests, and rejecting it when Lod embraces it.

Archaeologically, the Monks’ Cave (El Habis) is dated to the Byzantine period. It served as a resting place for monks and pilgrims, as evidenced by the sleeping niches and crosses carved into its walls.

The dispute goes beyond the historical-religious question and reflects a power struggle between local authorities. The site lies within Modi'in's municipal jurisdiction, yet Lod claims a historical connection to it through the "Wilderness of Lod" mentioned in the Zohar.

Meanwhile, visitors continue to enjoy the enchanting site in Ben Shemen Forest, as the debate over its historical identity and rightful stewardship continues to evolve. Stay tuned for updates.