In 1830 , the Ottomans legally recognized the tomb as a Jewish holy site . Proto-Zionist banker Sir Moses Montefiore visited Rachel 's Tomb together with his wife on their first visit to the Holy Land in 1828 . The couple were childless , and Lady Montefiore was deeply moved by the tomb , which was in good condition at that time . Before the couple 's next visit , in 1839 , the Galilee earthquake of 1837 had heavily damaged the tomb . In 1838 the tomb was described as " merely an ordinary Muslim Wely , or tomb of a holy person ; a small square building of stone with a dome , and within it a tomb in the ordinary Muhammedan form ; the whole plastered over with mortar . It is neglected and falling to decay ; though pilgrimages are still made to it by the Jews . The naked walls are covered with names in several languages ; many of them Hebrew . " THIS IS THE HOUSE WHICH WAS BUILT BY THE GREAT PRINCE OF ISRAEL SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE MAY HIS LIGHT SHINE FORTH AND HIS WIFE , THE DAUGHTER OF KINGS LADY JUDITH MAY WE MERIT TO SEE THE RIGHTEOUS MESSIAH GOD WILLING , AMEN In 1841 , Montefiore renovated the site and obtained for the Jews the key of the tomb . He renovated the entire structure , reconstructing and re-plastering its white dome , and added an antechamber , including a mihrab for Muslim prayer , to ease Muslim fears . Professor Glenn Bowman notes that some writers have described this as a “ purchase ” of the tomb by Montefiore , asserting that this was not the case
Galilee earthquake of 1837
Galilee earthquake of 1837
Rachel's Tomb