As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I could only find one place in Israel that contains the word “Gadol”, so I decided to use the Arabic word for “big” – Kabir – for today’s post.  Har Kabir sits on one of the main entry points to the land of Israel in antiquity.  Because of this location, people entering the valley would have looked up and given this feature the name “Har Kabir” – big mountain (in Arabic – Jabbal Kabir).  

This mountain, reaching a height of 767 m above sea level (2500 ft), sits over Nahal Tirtza.  This important nahal leads from the Jordan valley to the important city of Shchem (Nablus).  In the Bible, when Abraham enters the land from his homeland in Haran, he enters through this valley.  

Abraham came to the land to the place of Shchem into Elon Moreh…and God came to Abraham and said: “To your descendents I will give this land,” and there he built an altar to God who appeared to him there. Genesis 12:6-7 

Later, when Abraham’s grandson returns to the land of Israel after building his family in Haran, Jacob and his crew come initially to the city of Shchem.  They too, passed under Har Kabir on their way into Israel.  

Tomb of Bilal on Har Cabir

So prevalent was entry to the land from the countries to the north through this passage, that during the early Muslim period, an important figure becomes associated with this mountain.  The prophet Muhammed’s beloved muezzin, Bilal ibn Rabah, accompanied the advancing Arab army under the Caliph Umar in 638 CE.  Bilal did more than announce the prayers, though.  Apparently his beautiful, soulful voice was enough to bring rain in times of drought so he was seen as something of a miracle worker.  Unfortunately, he only lived for another 3 years after he entered the land of Israel and died in 641 CE.  According to tradition, he was buried on this great mountain – Jabbal Kabir.  His tomb continues to be a site of pilgrimage until today.

Next to this tomb is the modern Israeli town of Elon Moreh (population 2100), named for the location in the land of Israel where Abraham first built an altar and prayed to God.  

It seems fitting that this “Great Mountain” – Har Kabir – that served as a gatepost in the past, continues to be an important site in Israel today. Happy Hanukkah!

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