In Israel’s Biblical Hills, Ambassador Mike Huckabee’s Grandchildren Unearth Evidence of Jewish History

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently took part in a family tour of historic sites in the Binyamin region, during which his grandchildren made a remarkable discovery of ancient coins. “It’s amazing to come to a place that proves miracles can still happen today,” the Ambassador said.

“Grandpa, look what we found!”

What began as a family visit quickly became an encounter with history. During the tour, Huckabee’s grandchildren discovered five ancient coins in a concealed cave recently uncovered near the community of Na’aleh, in the hills just north of Jerusalem. The family participated in a tailored archaeological tour initiated by Ruti Lieberman, a political consultant and founder of the Yes! Israel Project, together with Sarah Paley. The tour was led by Dr. Dvir Raviv of Bar-Ilan University, who is directing the archaeological survey at the site.

The first cave they entered is one known to local residents, where fragments of a jar dating to the second century AD were found, evidence that the cave served as a hiding place for refugees during the Jewish rebellion against Roman rule in Judaea, the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132–135). In the second cave, which is not open to the public, Ambassador Huckabee’s grandchildren were provided with a metal detector, with which they discovered five ancient coins. These may date to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the Great Revolt (which led to the destruction of the Second Temple), or the late Roman period.

“It was inspiring to see such a senior figure for whom connecting to the land together with his family is so important,” Dr. Raviv said.

Huckabee: “A Place That Proves Miracles Can Happen”

From there, Huckabee and his wife, his daughter — Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders — her husband, and other family members continued on to ancient Shiloh, accompanied by Eliana Fenstein, director of the Foreign Affairs Desk of the Binyamin Regional Council. At the height of the visit, the family gathered for a joint prayer facing the site of the ancient Tabernacle.

The Ambassador, who has visited Shiloh several times in the past, said: “I have a warm place in my heart for ancient Shiloh. It’s amazing to come to a place that proves miracles can happen — 3,000 years ago and today as well.”

“I was delighted to host Ambassador Huckabee and his family at the archaeological sites of Binyamin – the place where heritage comes to life,” said Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council. “The artifacts they discovered are powerful testimony to our historical right to every part of the Land of Israel.”

Ruti Lieberman added: “This tour is part of a series of visits aimed at strengthening the connection between supporters of Israel in the United States and our homeland.”