Exploratory excavations in burial caves near Kever Rashbi in Meron have been halted after encountering what is being described as technical difficulties. The work was halted on Wednesday and efforts are now underway to resolve the problem, to determine just where they lead in the hope of finding a solution for kohanim.
 
The issue began last week when rabbanim affiliated with the Taharat HaKohanim Institute arrived in the area, seeking to learn if the caves present a problem to kohanim, possibly presenting a halachic problem of tuma. An on-site inspection of the 40 caves discovered in the area of Kever Rashbi was not carried out, for reasons that remain unclear.
 
On Tuesday, officials arrived and with the use of cameras introduced to the burial area, they tried to determine the depth and scope of the area, quickly determining that it is significantly larger than anticipated. Returning on Wednesday, efforts were made to continue mapping out the area with the specialized cameras but it became apparent that the caves branch out into to vast a network to permit continuing with the work. All work has stopped and the rabbonim must no evaluate if and how to proceed.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)