The 16th annual Hebron Research Conference will take place on Thursday July 16, 2026 and feature lectures and tours by leading researchers. Among the speakers will be 94-year-old Yosef Ezra, a native of Hebron who will talk about the experiences of the Jewish refugees who were forced to leave after the 1929 Hebron Massacre.
Recent archeological discoveries will also be unveiled such as an ancient water system underneath the Maarat HaMachpela, and new excavations near the ancient mikvahs by Tel Hevron. The conference is sponsored by Midreshet Hebron.
Speakers:
• Secrets of Tel Hebron: Dr. Aharon Tavger and Moran Hajabi will present a review of the new excavations at the site of ancient Hebron.
• Ancient water engineering: Dr. Gershon Bar Cochva and Haim Skolnik will reveal a sensational discovery of a Herodian water system in the Cave of the Patriarchs.
• Ancient Fortress: Assaf Dell and Dr. Dvir Raviv will present findings from an ancient Jewish fortress uncovered on Mount Hebron.
• An Architectural Vision Fulfilled: Veteran architect Erol Packer will present the original architectural plan for the renewal of the Jewish community of Hebron.
• The Avraham Avinu Synagogue: Dr. Noam Arnon will present the inspiring story of the synagogue on the anniversary of its rediscovery.
• Military History: Dr. Binyamin Geshur will discuss “Mount Hebron in the War of Independence”.
• Treasures in the Archives: Tzipi Shlissel will open a window to the treasures hidden in the Hebron Archives.
• Rare personal testimony: Mr. Yosef Ezra, a native of Hebron and chairman of the Hebron Refugee Committee in Jerusalem, will share the fascinating story of the Hebron refugees after the 1929 massacre.
The conference will conclude with a guided tour of Tel Hebron, which will allow participants to see the findings with their own eyes in the field.
The organizers promise a day full of original, enriching and surprising content, combining academic knowledge with a deep connection to the City of the Ancestors.
Past Conferences:
