R. Binyamin (from) Todelo

 

R. Binyamin (from) Todelo traveled to Eretz Yisroel in the year 1170. In his travel diary on מערת המכפלה, he writes, “The Goyim built six tombs and claim each one is for one of the אבות & אמהות. They fool the ignorant Goyim who pay money, to approach the tombs. For Yidden who come there, and pay them money, they open a metal gate and allow them to go down a staircase which leads to another staircase and then to a third staircase. Down there is the cave where the אבות are actually buried. There are six stone Matzeivos engraved with the names of Avraham, Sarah, Yitzchok, Rivka, Yakov, Leah. (no Matzeivah for Adam& Chava) There are also many barrels filled with bones. These bones are from Yidden who bring their dead and place them there so they will rest  next to the אבות.     מסעות רבי בנימין - בנימין בן יונה, מטודלה