Mount Herzl’s Visitors Trail

Over time, the military cemetery on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, became the nation’s official commemorative site for the rebirth of the Jewish people in its homeland. In the summer of 1949, the remains of Theodor (Binyamin Ze’ev) Herzl, the visionary of the State of Israel, were brought to Israel and reinterred on Mount Herzl. At about the same time, the slopes were designated as the site for the Israeli capital’s military cemetery. Due to its topographic and symbolic location in west Jerusalem, unique memorial sites were built on Mount Herzl, such as monuments to Jewish heroism in the struggle against Nazi Germany, memorials to those who perished on the “illegal” immigrant ships, various burial plots, such as the plot of the Yishuv paratroopers who were sent to occupied Europe to rescue Jews from the Nazis, and the national monument to the victims of acts of terror. The Great Leaders of the Nation Plot, where presidents, prime ministers, and Speakers of the Knesset are buried, was dedicated in 1952, and became part of the military cemetery.

The Visitors Trail begins at the entrance to the military cemetery, and passes through Gan Hane’edarim (Garden of the MIA) in memory of Israel’s fallen whose burial place is unknown, the Great Leaders of the Nation Plot, the Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial, the Zionist Leaders Plot, and Herzl’s grave. It continues through the Linking Trail and the Netzer Acharon (Last of Kin) Memorial, and concludes in Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center. In a unique and moving way, the thirty or so milestones along the trail weave the story of Zionist rebirth in the Land of Israel.

Milestones Along the Visitors Trail

Memorial for the Jewish soldiers in the Russian Army who fell in World War II Memorial for the Jewish soldiers in the Polish Army who fell in World War II Memorial for the volunteers of the Yishuv who fell in World War II Memorial for the soldiers who went down with the SS Erinpura in World War II Memorial for the 23 Palmach sea commandoes who fell during Operation Boatswain Common grave of the fallen of the Nebi Daniel Convoy Gan Hane’edarim (Garden of the MIA) in memory of Israel’s fallen whose burial place is unknown Monument for the fallen fighters of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem who are buried on the Mount of Olives Memorial for the sailors who went down with the submarine INS Dakar Common grave of the defenders of Neve Yaakov
Common grave of the fallen fighters in the Battle of Latrun
Common grave of the Radar Hill fighters
Common grave of the defenders of Kfar Etzion
Common grave of the platoon of 35
Memorial for the Yishuv paratroopers who fell in Europe in WW2
Operation Kadesh Plot
Operation Peace for Galilee (First Lebanon War) Plot
Olei Hagardom Plot
Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial
Common grave of the fallen who went down with the immigrant ship Salvador
Common grave of the fallen who died aboard the immigrant boat Egoz
The Linking Trail between Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem
Netzer Acharon Memorial for the Last of Kin
Great Leaders of the Nation Plot
Zionist Leaders Plot
Binyamin Ze’ev Herzl’s grave
Plot of fallen soldiers since 1990
Six-Day War Plot
Yom Kippur War Plot
Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s grave
Memorial for the Jewish immigrants from Ethiopia