The 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, leader of Chabad visited Hebron on August 13, 1929. He and a small entourage had the rare opportunity to enter inside the Tomb of the Patriarchs & Matriarchs building which the Ottoman authorities had made off-limits. Usually Jews were allowed only to ascend to the seventh step of the staircase leading into the structure.
Before entering, the Rebbe led a long and emotional mincha service for the large group that had gathered to greet him. He sang using the melodies usually reserved for High Holiday services.
The Rebbe visited Chabad-owned properties in Hebron which had been purchased by his father Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn over a decade before. These included Beit Romano where the Toras Emes Yeshiva was established.
He also visited the historic Avraham Avinu synagogue where the Sephardic Jews prayed and the Slabodka Yeshiva where Lithuanian Jews learned.
Today, Chabad of Hebron continues with a thriving community and programing to assist residents, IDF soldiers and visitors.
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