This Day in History: The Versailles Wedding Hall Tragedy

3rd of Sivan, 5761. In the midst of a wedding at the "Versailles" banquet hall located in the Talpiot area of Jerusalem, the floor appeared to tremble slightly. Moments later, everything shook. The floor of the hall gave way underneath. Twenty-three wedding guests lost their lives, and another 380 were injured.

The Versailles Wedding Hall disaster was one of the most severe building catastrophes in Israel's history. The scale of the event, coupled with the fact that the entire incident was filmed and later broadcast on media channels, left the Israeli public in shock.

Inquiry committees were established to investigate the incident, with the primary suspicion focusing on the construction method of the building—a technique known as "Pal-Kal," which was also found to be unsafe in other cases.

A memorial stands today at the site where the hall once stood, honoring the 23 people who perished in the disaster.