The rotation agreement allows ten days a year for Jews and ten days a year for Muslims at the Tomb of the Patriarchs.
COVID-19 UPDATE: All public gatherings will be subject to Ministry of Health regulations. Many holiday gatherings have been cancelled or moved to the outside Rochelle Berkowitz Plaza. For updates on how Israel is handling the coronavirus pandemic click here.
The Tomb of Machpela is the 2,000-year-old structure that covers the underground cave of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. It contains both a synagogue area and a mosque area with each side being managed separately with separate entrances.
For ten days a year, the Muslim area of the Tomb of the Patriarchs is open for Jewish prayer services and for another ten days, the Jewish area is open for Muslim prayer services. This gives each side free access to otherwise off-limits sections. Certain sections in the Muslim area are off limits even during these special days.
During normal days, the complex is divided into Jewish and Muslim areas with the Hall of Isaac and Rebecca reserved for Muslim prayers. This hall contains the small opening into the underground caves, known as the “entrance to the Garden of Eden.”
For ten days a year, the Muslim area of the Tomb of the Patriarchs is open for Jewish prayer services and for another ten days, the Jewish area is open for Muslim prayer services. This gives each side free access to otherwise off-limits sections. Certain sections in the Muslim area are off limits even during these special days.
During normal days, the complex is divided into Jewish and Muslim areas with the Hall of Isaac and Rebecca reserved for Muslim prayers. This hall contains the small opening into the underground caves, known as the “entrance to the Garden of Eden.”
The Cave of Machpelah is open:
Winter Time – 4:00am – 9:00pm
Summer Time – 4:00am – 10:00pm
Summer Time – 4:00am – 10:00pm
The outside courtyard and Seventh Step garden area is always open. It is in this outdoor area where Jewish prayer services are hedl during Muslim holidays.
The Cave of Machpelah will be reserved for special Jewish prayer services, including the Hall of Isaac and Rebecca on the following days:
Sunday April 12, 2020 – 18th of Nisan 5780 – Passover chol hamoed
Monday April 13, 2020 – 19th of Nisan 5780 – Passover chol hamoed
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – 19th of Av 5780 – Erev Rosh Hodesh Elul
Saturday September 19, 2020 – 1st of Tishrei 5781 – Rosh Hashannah
Wednesday September 23, 2020 – 5th of Tishrei 5781 – Shlichot for Ten Days of Repentence
Monday September 28, 2020 – 10th of Tishrei 5781 – Yom Kippur
Monday October 5, 2020 – 17th of Tishrei 5781 – Succot chol hamoed
Tuesday October 6, 2020 – 18th of Tishrei – Succot chol hamoed
Saturday October 10, 2020 – 22nd of Tishrei 5781 – Post-Simchat Torah Hakafot Shniot
Saturday November 14, 2020 – 27th of Cheshvan 5781 – Parshat Chayei Sarah
Monday April 13, 2020 – 19th of Nisan 5780 – Passover chol hamoed
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – 19th of Av 5780 – Erev Rosh Hodesh Elul
Saturday September 19, 2020 – 1st of Tishrei 5781 – Rosh Hashannah
Wednesday September 23, 2020 – 5th of Tishrei 5781 – Shlichot for Ten Days of Repentence
Monday September 28, 2020 – 10th of Tishrei 5781 – Yom Kippur
Monday October 5, 2020 – 17th of Tishrei 5781 – Succot chol hamoed
Tuesday October 6, 2020 – 18th of Tishrei – Succot chol hamoed
Saturday October 10, 2020 – 22nd of Tishrei 5781 – Post-Simchat Torah Hakafot Shniot
Saturday November 14, 2020 – 27th of Cheshvan 5781 – Parshat Chayei Sarah
On the following days the Tomb complex will be reserved for Muslim prayers, including those areas normally used for Jewish prayer services. All Jewish services will take place outside at the Seventh Step garden.
Sunday March 22, 2020 – 26th of Adar 5780 – Lailat al Miraj
Friday April 24, 2020 – 30th of Nisan 5780 – Ramadan
Friday May 1, 2020 – 7th of Iyyar 5780 – Ramadan
Friday May 8, 2020 – 14th of Iyyar 5780 – Ramadan
Friday May 15, 2020 – 21st of Iyyar 5780 – Ramadan
Tuesday May 19, 2020 – 25th of Iyyar 5780 – Ramadan
Wednesday May 20, 2020 – 26th of Iyyar 5780 – the Tomb will open at 10:00am
Friday May 22, 2020 – 28th of Iyyar 5780 – Laylat al Qadr
Sunday May 24, 2020 – 1st of Sivan 5780 – Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Thursday July 30, 2020 – 9th of Av 5780 (Tisha B’Av) – Eid al-Adha
Thursday August 20, 2020 – 30th of Av 5780 – Hijra – Islamic New Year
Thursday October 29, 2020 – 11th of Cheshvan 5781 – Mawlid al-Nabi
Friday April 24, 2020 – 30th of Nisan 5780 – Ramadan
Friday May 1, 2020 – 7th of Iyyar 5780 – Ramadan
Friday May 8, 2020 – 14th of Iyyar 5780 – Ramadan
Friday May 15, 2020 – 21st of Iyyar 5780 – Ramadan
Tuesday May 19, 2020 – 25th of Iyyar 5780 – Ramadan
Wednesday May 20, 2020 – 26th of Iyyar 5780 – the Tomb will open at 10:00am
Friday May 22, 2020 – 28th of Iyyar 5780 – Laylat al Qadr
Sunday May 24, 2020 – 1st of Sivan 5780 – Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Thursday July 30, 2020 – 9th of Av 5780 (Tisha B’Av) – Eid al-Adha
Thursday August 20, 2020 – 30th of Av 5780 – Hijra – Islamic New Year
Thursday October 29, 2020 – 11th of Cheshvan 5781 – Mawlid al-Nabi
Please note that there may be changes in opening and closing times. It is recommended that you double-check by calling 050-647-7776 or 050-647-7744.
For any additional inquiry and for coordinating events and celebrations, the Cave of the Patriarchs staff is at your service.
VISIT HEBRON TODAY!
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronfund
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishcommunityofhebron/
Israeli contact info:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hebron.machpela
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronvideo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishcommunityofhebron/
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES:
