(Malani Mtanga, an MP from Malawi, speaks with Rabbi Danny
Cohen, head of Chabad of Hebron at the annual Succot music festival.
Credit: Avi Hayoun / Jewish Community of Hebron.)
Cohen, head of Chabad of Hebron at the annual Succot music festival.
Credit: Avi Hayoun / Jewish Community of Hebron.)
20 global parliamentarians joined over 30,000 people who came to pay homage
and celebrate at the annual Succot festival in Hebron. This proud display of solidarity
comes a day after UNESCO passed a resolution denying the Jewish connection to the Temple
Mount and audaciously demanded that Israel remove the Tombs of the Forefathers and
Mothers (Cave of Machpela) in Hebron off of its heritage sites
list.
and celebrate at the annual Succot festival in Hebron. This proud display of solidarity
comes a day after UNESCO passed a resolution denying the Jewish connection to the Temple
Mount and audaciously demanded that Israel remove the Tombs of the Forefathers and
Mothers (Cave of Machpela) in Hebron off of its heritage sites
list.
The Jewish Community of Hebron sees the annual mass pilgrimage to Hebron as
the perfect answer to the UNESCO vote, and a strong kickoff to the
50 year anniversary celebrations for the liberation of Judea and
Samaria. For 19 years, Jews were unable to access the holy sites in Jerusalem and Hebron
until the 1967 Six Day War.
the perfect answer to the UNESCO vote, and a strong kickoff to the
50 year anniversary celebrations for the liberation of Judea and
Samaria. For 19 years, Jews were unable to access the holy sites in Jerusalem and Hebron
until the 1967 Six Day War.
The Israel Allies Foundation brought Members of Parliament from around
the world as part of their annual Israel Allies Chairman Conference. These included
Member of the European Parliament Bas Belder, MEP Branislav Škripek, MP Jeppe
Jakobsen of Denmark, MP Antero Laukkanen of Finland, MP Inga Bite of Latvia, MP Kees van
der Staaij of the Netherlands, MP Peter Östman of Finland, MP Pablo Casado of Spain, MP
Marek Krajčí of Slovakia, MP Alfred Heer of Switzerland, Minister Ruperto Long of
Uruguay, Congressman Gerardo Amarilla of Uruguay, Congresswoman Karla Prendas of Costa
Rica, MP Kenneth Meshoe of South Africa, and MP Malani Mtonga of
Malawi.
the world as part of their annual Israel Allies Chairman Conference. These included
Member of the European Parliament Bas Belder, MEP Branislav Škripek, MP Jeppe
Jakobsen of Denmark, MP Antero Laukkanen of Finland, MP Inga Bite of Latvia, MP Kees van
der Staaij of the Netherlands, MP Peter Östman of Finland, MP Pablo Casado of Spain, MP
Marek Krajčí of Slovakia, MP Alfred Heer of Switzerland, Minister Ruperto Long of
Uruguay, Congressman Gerardo Amarilla of Uruguay, Congresswoman Karla Prendas of Costa
Rica, MP Kenneth Meshoe of South Africa, and MP Malani Mtonga of
Malawi.
The Council of Judea and Samaria (Yesha) organized their tour to the Hebron
Jewish community, and the MPs got to meet with leaders of the Hebron Jewish community,
Director General Uri Karzen, Spokesman Noam Arnon, and International Spokesman Yishai
Fleisher, as well as Oded Ravivi, mayor of Efrat and the Yesha Council’s international
envoy, and Shiloh Adler CEO of the Council.
Jewish community, and the MPs got to meet with leaders of the Hebron Jewish community,
Director General Uri Karzen, Spokesman Noam Arnon, and International Spokesman Yishai
Fleisher, as well as Oded Ravivi, mayor of Efrat and the Yesha Council’s international
envoy, and Shiloh Adler CEO of the Council.
Simultaneously, the public festival, organized by the Hebron Jewish
Community, included musical performances from top-name Israeli and Jewish artists,
blessings from Israeli Members of Knesset and Ministers, as well as tours of
historical sites and family-friendly activities.
Community, included musical performances from top-name Israeli and Jewish artists,
blessings from Israeli Members of Knesset and Ministers, as well as tours of
historical sites and family-friendly activities.
Among the highlights of the festival was the opening of the Isaac &
Rebecca Hall for Jewish people – the hall which contains the cenotaphs [stone
memorial markers] for the Biblical Isaac and Rebecca. This area of the Tomb of Machpela
is accessible only ten days a year as part of a rotation agreement with the Muslim Waqf.
The hall is the largest in the Tomb of Machpela, the ancient complex built by King Herod
the Great as a memorial to the Jewish forefathers and mothers who are buried in the
underground caves below the massive edifice.
Rebecca Hall for Jewish people – the hall which contains the cenotaphs [stone
memorial markers] for the Biblical Isaac and Rebecca. This area of the Tomb of Machpela
is accessible only ten days a year as part of a rotation agreement with the Muslim Waqf.
The hall is the largest in the Tomb of Machpela, the ancient complex built by King Herod
the Great as a memorial to the Jewish forefathers and mothers who are buried in the
underground caves below the massive edifice.
Also open to the crowds was the Cave of Otniel Ben Knaz, the first judge
of Israel. As described in the Book of Judges and the Book of Joshua, Otniel was the
brother of Caleb. Today his burial tomb is located in the H1 section of the city and
generally off limits to Jews, as are three other Jewish historical sites. The cave
corresponds to the description of ancient Jewish burial practices in the
Mishna.
of Israel. As described in the Book of Judges and the Book of Joshua, Otniel was the
brother of Caleb. Today his burial tomb is located in the H1 section of the city and
generally off limits to Jews, as are three other Jewish historical sites. The cave
corresponds to the description of ancient Jewish burial practices in the
Mishna.
Several Members of Knesset attended the event including Deputy Defense
Minister Eli Ben Dahan who mentioned on his Facebook page that he was “voting with his
feet” by visiting Hebron just days after the slanderous UNESCO vote. From the podium he
stated that “if they [UNESCO] decide that there is no connection between Jews and the
Land of Israel, we will come on mass to the tombs of our fathers and our mothers, to the
Temple Mount and the Western Wall.”
Minister Eli Ben Dahan who mentioned on his Facebook page that he was “voting with his
feet” by visiting Hebron just days after the slanderous UNESCO vote. From the podium he
stated that “if they [UNESCO] decide that there is no connection between Jews and the
Land of Israel, we will come on mass to the tombs of our fathers and our mothers, to the
Temple Mount and the Western Wall.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely stated that despite UNESCO, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs campaign to celebrate 50 years of Jewish presence in
Judea and Samaria “begins today in Hebron.” Also speaking were Members of
Knesset Moti Yogev, Ayoob Kara (who spoke about the connection of the Jewish and
Druze communities), Nurit Koren, Oren Hazan, and Amir Ohana.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs campaign to celebrate 50 years of Jewish presence in
Judea and Samaria “begins today in Hebron.” Also speaking were Members of
Knesset Moti Yogev, Ayoob Kara (who spoke about the connection of the Jewish and
Druze communities), Nurit Koren, Oren Hazan, and Amir Ohana.
The main event of the festival is the music concert featuring Jewish-American
singer Mordechai Ben David. MBD, as he is affectionately called, has performed in Hebron
numerous times and even written several songs about the city. Also performing was
Benny Friedman, the United States-based singer known for his viral video Yesh
Tikvah. Other singers included Haim Israel, who performs every year and is a star
in the Mizrachi / Sephardic Jewish music world. Also on stage were Ami Cohen, SHUKY, Dov
Karp, Akiva Margaliot and others.
singer Mordechai Ben David. MBD, as he is affectionately called, has performed in Hebron
numerous times and even written several songs about the city. Also performing was
Benny Friedman, the United States-based singer known for his viral video Yesh
Tikvah. Other singers included Haim Israel, who performs every year and is a star
in the Mizrachi / Sephardic Jewish music world. Also on stage were Ami Cohen, SHUKY, Dov
Karp, Akiva Margaliot and others.
The Jerusalem Municipality arranged special bus transportation to and from
the Tomb of Machpela for the event. The Jewish Community of Hebron also issued thanks
the IDF personnel and police presence who secured the event thus enabling
Israelis from all over the country to get in touch with their roots and enjoy the Succot
holiday.
the Tomb of Machpela for the event. The Jewish Community of Hebron also issued thanks
the IDF personnel and police presence who secured the event thus enabling
Israelis from all over the country to get in touch with their roots and enjoy the Succot
holiday.
For coverage of last year’s Succot festival which featured headliner Lipa
Schmeltzer, click
here.
Schmeltzer, click
here.
Media coverage of event:
* Dutch
MEP Rejects UNESCO vote in Hebron – Jerusalem Post
MEP Rejects UNESCO vote in Hebron – Jerusalem Post
* Defying
UNESCO, foreign lawmakers tour Jewish Hebron – Times of
Israel
UNESCO, foreign lawmakers tour Jewish Hebron – Times of
Israel
* MPs from around the
world visit Jewish sites in Hevron – Israel National
News
world visit Jewish sites in Hevron – Israel National
News
* Parliamentarians
Visit Hebron – Honest Reporting
Visit Hebron – Honest Reporting
* 30,000 at
Hebron Event – NRG (Hebrew)
Hebron Event – NRG (Hebrew)
To visit Hebron:
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
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