A timeline of Hebron’s 3,800 years of Jewish continuity from Abraham until today.
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1735 BCE Abraham comes to the Land of Israel and settles in Hebron.
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1675 BCE Abraham purchases the Tomb of Machpela (Patriarch and Matriarch)
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1250 BCE Joshua leads Tribes of Israel. Caleb liberates Hebron.
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1007 BCE David is anointed king in Hebron.
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587 BCE 1st Temple destroyed, Edomites settle Hebron area.
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445 BCE Return to Zion.
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164 BCE Hasmonean Revolt. Judah Maccabee liberates Hebron.
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30 BCE Construction of enormous edifice over Cave of Machpela by King Herod the Great.
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70 CE 2nd Temple, Jerusalem, Hebron attacked.
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132 CE Bar Kochba Revolt. Hebron in center of revolt area.
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330 CE Byzantine Conquest. Church built over Tomb of Machpela.
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4th – 6th century CE Jews continue to pray at Tomb of Machpela and Elonei Mamre.
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638 CE Islamic Conquest. Mosque built in the Tomb of Machpela. Jews still pray in Tomb of Machpela synagogue.
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10th century CE Arabs build Yusufia (Yosefiyya) attached to Tomb of Machpela.
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1100 CE Crusader conquest, Hebron Jews banished. Church built in Tomb of Machpela.
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1170 CE Visit by writer and traveler Rabbi Petachia of Ratisbon.
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1171 CE Visit by writer and traveler Benjamin of Tudela.
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1166 CE Rambam (Maimonides) visits Hebron and prays at Tomb of Machpela.
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1260 CE Mamluk Conquest.
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1267 CE Jews banned from Tomb of Machpela. Ramban visits Hebron “to acquire a burial site.”
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1489 CE Rabbi Ovadiah of Bartenura sojourns in Hebron.
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1517 CE Ottoman Conquest, anti-Jewish riots.
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1540 CE Rabbi Malkiel Ashkenazi buys land and builds the Jewish Quarter and the Avraham Avinu Synagogue.
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1583 CE Mystics from Tzfat, including the “Reishit Chochmah” Rabbi Eliyahu Di Vidas move to Hebron.
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1619 CE Epidemic drives much of community to Gaza for safety.
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1648 CE Rabbi Naftali Bachrach publishes Emeq ha-Melekh, describes Avraham Avinu synagogue miracle of Yom Kippur.
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1630 CE Decrees against Hebron’s Jews. “The Purim Window Miracle.”
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1700 CE Rabbi Gedalia of Semyatich (Siemiatycze) and Rabbi Judah Hasid visit Hebron with large group of Jews.
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1744 CE Community leader Rabbi Pinchas Mordechai Bajayo sends shaliach abroad.
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1748 CE First Hasidic immigrants arrive. Rabbi Abraham Gershon of Kitov, brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov visits.
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1753 CE The “Chidah” Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai goes to Europe as fundraiser on behalf of Hebron’s Jews.
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1754 CE Rabbi Raphael Chaim Yitzchak Karigal appointed to be a shliach of Hebron, travels to America.
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1799 CE Napoleon’s invasion forces Jews of Gaza to relocate to Hebron.
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1807 CE Magen Avot Sephardi Kollel Organization purchases area today known as the wholesale market.
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May 1811 CE Rabbi Haim Yeshua Bajayo (Haim Yeshua HaMitzri) buys Tel Hebron on behalf of Hebron’s Jews.
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1819 CE Fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe calls on his followers to return to Hebron. Many do so.
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1834 CE Ibrahim Pasha Conquest. Jewish community suffers massacre. Earthquake damages Hebron.
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1839 CE Sir Moses Montefiore & Lady Montefiore visit Hebron, take census.
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1840–1845 CE Second wave of Chabad hasidim arrive including Rabbi Simon Menashe Chaikin & Menucha Rochel Slonim.
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1856 CE Rabbi Eliyahu Mani arrives from Baghdad and settles in Hebron.
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1869 CE Ben Ish Hai visits Hebron, attempt to buy the Tomb of Machpela.
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1876 CE Haim Yisrael Romano builds Beit Romano, Istanbuli Synagogue.
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1881 CE The “Charif” Rabbi Chaim Rachamim Yosef Franco becomes Chief Rabbi of Hebron.
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1893 CE Ground floor completed of the “Chessed LeAvraham” Health Clinic, later renamed Beit Hadassah.
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1901 CE Rabbi Chaim Hezekiah Medini, the “Sdei Chemed” moves to Hebron and is appointed chief rabbi.
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1909 CE Yosef Avraham Shalom adds a floor on to the “Chessed LeAvraham” clinic, later renamed Beit Hadassah.
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1912 CE The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Ber Schneerson buys Beit Romano and founds Yeshivat Torat Emet.
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1914 CE World War I. Community weakened and impoverished.
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1918 CE British conquest.
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1925 CE Community recovers. Slobodka Yeshiva (Knesset Yisrael) arrives.
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1929 CE Riots. Hebron Massacre. Jews banished, community destroyed.
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1931 CE Part of community returns led by Rabbi Haim Bajayo.
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1935 CE Gerrer Rebbe visits Hebron, prays on 11th step.
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April 23, 1936 CE Hebron Jews banished by British.
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1948 CE State of Israel is reborn. Hebron conquered by Jordan. Jewish Quarter and cemetery demolished. Avraham Avinu Synagogue becomes trash heap and animal pen.
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1963 CE Prof. Philip C. Hammond begins American Expedition to Hebron, discovers Cyclopean walls at Tel Hebron.
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June 8, 1967 CE Hebron liberated, Rabbi Shlomo Goren waves Israeli flag at Tomb of Machpela.
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April 1968 CE Jewish residents return. Passover seder at Park Hotel. After five weeks they are moved to the Civil Admin. Bldg. and set up community yeshiva and factories.
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Oct. 9, 1968 First person to descend into Cave of Machpela in modern times under the auspices Defense Minister Moshe Dayan.
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1969 CE Grenade thrown at Jews by Tomb of Machpela. Dozens wounded. Deputy Prime Minister Yigal Allon announces a Jewish city will soon be built near Hebron.
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1971 CE Residents move into Kiryat Arba the new Jewish city adjacent to Hebron.
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1975 CE Prof. Ben-Zion Tavger begins to uncover remains of Avraham Avinu Synagogue.
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Oct. 15, 1976 CE – Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin and Defense Minister Shimon Peres visit.
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1979 CE Women and children enter Beit Hadassah.
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Jan. 1980 CE Residents move into Ramat Mamre.
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May 1980 CE Six Jews murdered at Beit Hadassah. Govt. decides to renew Hebron community.
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May 22, 1981 CE Dedication of renewed Avraham Avinu Synagogue.
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1981 CE Team of Jewish residents descend into Cave of Machpela, first excavation in modern times.
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1981 CE Following previous descent, Dr. Seev Jevin (Zeev Yavin) of the Israel Antiquities Authority visits before entrance is sealed.
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1984 CE Prof. Avi Ofer of Tel Aviv University begins excavations of Tel Hevron.
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1984 CE Tel Hebron renewed. Admot Yishai (Tel Rumeida) neighborhood established.
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1986 CE Families move into renewed Beit Hadassah.
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1989 CE New homes dedicated in the Jewish Quarter.
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1990 CE Residents move into Givat Ha’avot neighborhood.
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1993 – 1994 CE Wave of terrorist attacks kill and wound dozens. Warnings of escalation.
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1994 CE Dr. Baruch Goldstein Tomb of Machpela shooting. 29 dead. Riots. Tomb of Machpela closed for 8 months. TIPH deployed for 6 months.
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1995 CE Floors added to Beit Schneerson. Nachum Hoss and Yehuda Partush murdered.
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1997 CE Hebron Accords divide city. Israel retains 20%. TIPH deployed. Terrorisim increases.
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1998 CE Rabbi Shlomo Raanan zt’l murdered in Admot Yishai.
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April 1999 CE Emanuel Eisenberg begins Tel Hebron Excavations, King’s Seals found at Tel Hebron.
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1999 CE Beit Nachum Veyehuda built in Avraham Avinu neighborhood. Excavations uncover Tel Hebron antiquities.
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2000 CE Beit Hashisha built.
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2001 CE Oslo War / Second Intifada. Terrorism rampant. Hebron Jews under constant fire. Baby Shalhevet Pass shot from Abu Sneineh Hills.
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2002 CE Israeli Defense Forces retake hills surrounding Hebron, finally ending daily shooting attacks, following the murder of five year old Danielle Shefi at Adura community.
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2005 CE Beit Menachem building completed and dedicated in Admot Ishai (Tel Rumeida) neighborhood.
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2007 CE Hebron community concludes purchase of Beit HaShalom. Jewish families populate 4000 sq meter building on road between Hebron and Kiryat Arba
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2008 CE Defense Minister Ehud Barak orders expulsion of Jews from Beit HaShalom after having lived there for 20 months.
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2009 CE Jewish community receives official statistics: 500,000 visit Tomb of Machpela in 2009. Less than half that number visit the PA side of the holy site.
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2010 CE Israel adds Tomb of Machpela to list of 150 national heritage sites.
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2011 CE Education Minister announces plan to bring students on field trips to Hebron.
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2013 CE Prime Minister Netanyahu sends letter of support to community for Parshat Chayei Sarah.
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2014 CE Emanuel Eisenberg returns with Prof. Shlomo Ben-David to Tel Hebron, ancient mikvot and wine presses discovered.
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2015 CE 4D movie Touching Eternity and new Hebron Visitor’s Center at Beit Hadassah unveiled.
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2016 CE Hebron community concludes purchase of Beit Rachel and Leah.
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January 2017 CE Bus routes expanded for Hebron, Kiryat Arba.
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August 2017 CE Jewish Community of Hebron granted independent municipal status.
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October 2017 CE First new housing approved for Hebron in almost 15 years.
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March 2018 CE Jewish residents return to Beit Rachel & Beit Leah.
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October 2018 CE Hezekiah quarter recieves full approval from government.
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February 2019 TIPH mandate ends.
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January 2020 1 million tourists visit Hebron in record-breaking year.
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July 2020 Pottery recovered from inside Cave of Machpela analyzed.
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2022 Handicapped access and elevator project begins at Tomb of Machpela
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HEBRON CONTACT INFORMATION
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
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/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hebonisrael
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thehebronfund1
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/hebron_machpela/
