From Tazpit Press
Service – By Jonathan Benedek
Service – By Jonathan Benedek
Continuing an annual tradition, thousands of Israelis spent the past week’s
Sabbath of “Shabbat Chayei Sarah,” in the ancient Biblical city of Hebron. On
“Shabbat Chayei Sarah,” the Jewish community across the world reads the portion of the
Patriarch Abraham purchasing the Cave of Machpelah, located in Hebron, to bury his
deceased wife Sarah.
Sabbath of “Shabbat Chayei Sarah,” in the ancient Biblical city of Hebron. On
“Shabbat Chayei Sarah,” the Jewish community across the world reads the portion of the
Patriarch Abraham purchasing the Cave of Machpelah, located in Hebron, to bury his
deceased wife Sarah.
“I thought there was going to be a lot fewer people but there were still
thousands and it was incredibly impressive,” said Yishai Fleisher, international
spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, to Tazpit Press Service
(TPS).
thousands and it was incredibly impressive,” said Yishai Fleisher, international
spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, to Tazpit Press Service
(TPS).
The number of Israelis spending Shabbat Chayei Sarah in Hebron this
year was noticeably lower than in previous years, however, largely due to the recent
wave of terror attacks. Fleisher emphasized that the thousands who showed up displayed a
significant level of defiance.
year was noticeably lower than in previous years, however, largely due to the recent
wave of terror attacks. Fleisher emphasized that the thousands who showed up displayed a
significant level of defiance.
“We defied them,” Fleisher said, referring to the recent wave of terror
attacks carried out by Palestinian terrorists targeting Jerusalem, Hebron, and
other areas in the country. “We showed amazing defiance but it wasn’t an angry
defiance. It was full of joy and happiness.”
attacks carried out by Palestinian terrorists targeting Jerusalem, Hebron, and
other areas in the country. “We showed amazing defiance but it wasn’t an angry
defiance. It was full of joy and happiness.”
Fleisher told TPS that a number of terror attacks were carried out
in Hebron over the Sabbath. “There was a shooting near the Cave of Machpelah and an
attack on security forces outside of Hebron,” Fleisher said.
in Hebron over the Sabbath. “There was a shooting near the Cave of Machpelah and an
attack on security forces outside of Hebron,” Fleisher said.
“The enemies of Israel will stop at nothing to erase our connection, our
historic, spiritual legal connection to this land, they tried to erase our identity,”
continued Fleisher. “They wanted to put a damper on our joy and people had to overcome
rain as well, but the people came and the reason the people came was because this is the
heart of our identity and the reason we have legitimacy to be in this
land.”
historic, spiritual legal connection to this land, they tried to erase our identity,”
continued Fleisher. “They wanted to put a damper on our joy and people had to overcome
rain as well, but the people came and the reason the people came was because this is the
heart of our identity and the reason we have legitimacy to be in this
land.”
Fleisher took the opportunity to expound on how Hebron is a source
for the Jewish people’s legitimacy in the land of Israel. “Hebron is the first land
purchase of the Jewish people in the land of Israel,” Fleisher said, referring to the
Biblical portion of Abraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpelah. “It’s where the
founders of Judaism are buried, the greatest human beings that ever walked the
earth.”
for the Jewish people’s legitimacy in the land of Israel. “Hebron is the first land
purchase of the Jewish people in the land of Israel,” Fleisher said, referring to the
Biblical portion of Abraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpelah. “It’s where the
founders of Judaism are buried, the greatest human beings that ever walked the
earth.”
Fleisher also referenced Israel’s first Prime Minister. “Ben Gurion said that
Hebron is the proper sister city of Jerusalem,” he added. Elaborating on Ben
Gurion’s statement, Fleisher explained that “just like King David whose kingdom started
in Hebron and then moved to Jerusalem, there’s a natural progression from the
roots of our history in Hebron to the future of our history, which is in
Jerusalem.”
Hebron is the proper sister city of Jerusalem,” he added. Elaborating on Ben
Gurion’s statement, Fleisher explained that “just like King David whose kingdom started
in Hebron and then moved to Jerusalem, there’s a natural progression from the
roots of our history in Hebron to the future of our history, which is in
Jerusalem.”
Fleisher also stressed the desire of the Jewish community
in Hebron to make the city a heritage site for the non-Jewish world as well.
“Hebron is going to become a world heritage site for all those who want to pay
homage to the founders of monotheistic civilization,” Fleisher said.
in Hebron to make the city a heritage site for the non-Jewish world as well.
“Hebron is going to become a world heritage site for all those who want to pay
homage to the founders of monotheistic civilization,” Fleisher said.
To visit Hebron:
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.com/
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.com/
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
