(PHOTO: Artistic rendering of planned apartment complex by
the corner of Sde Hemed Street and King David Street.)
the corner of Sde Hemed Street and King David Street.)
Rabbi Chaim Hezekiah
Medini would likely be proud to know that 114 years after his passing, a
neighborhood named after him is finally being renovated. The 31 new housing units
in the Hezekiah quarter will be the first new construction in the H2 section of
Hebron in 16 years. All building and zoning permits in Judea and Samaria must be
approved by the IDF Civil Administration, and in the case of Hebron, even
signing a deed often leads to multiple court cases. In this case, part of an army
outpost will be converted into residential units meaning the plan needed an extra
signature. The entire sum that the government has allocated for the project will be
to relocate and renovate the army post which has been at the site for the past 30 years.
The actual funding of the residential project will be paid by the Jewish community
of Hebron and the new residents that purchase the
apartments.
Medini would likely be proud to know that 114 years after his passing, a
neighborhood named after him is finally being renovated. The 31 new housing units
in the Hezekiah quarter will be the first new construction in the H2 section of
Hebron in 16 years. All building and zoning permits in Judea and Samaria must be
approved by the IDF Civil Administration, and in the case of Hebron, even
signing a deed often leads to multiple court cases. In this case, part of an army
outpost will be converted into residential units meaning the plan needed an extra
signature. The entire sum that the government has allocated for the project will be
to relocate and renovate the army post which has been at the site for the past 30 years.
The actual funding of the residential project will be paid by the Jewish community
of Hebron and the new residents that purchase the
apartments.
On Friday Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman stated “the Cabinet will approve
the plan to build 31 housing units in the Hezekiah Quarter in Hebron. The plan,
which has already been advanced through various planning stages, also
includes
the plan to build 31 housing units in the Hezekiah Quarter in Hebron. The plan,
which has already been advanced through various planning stages, also
includes
kindergartens and public parks. We will continue to strengthen the
communities in Judea and Samaria, by action, not just words.”
communities in Judea and Samaria, by action, not just words.”
When the approval finally passed on Sunday he announced, “A new Jewish
neighborhood in Hebron, for the first time in almost 20 years. Instead of a
military camp we will establish a new neighborhood. 31 apartments, 2 kindergartens and a
dormitory will be built. I thank the Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers who
signed the approval of the Hezekiah Quarter plan. This is yet another important
milestone in the extensive activity we are leading to strengthening settlement in Judea
and Samaria.”
neighborhood in Hebron, for the first time in almost 20 years. Instead of a
military camp we will establish a new neighborhood. 31 apartments, 2 kindergartens and a
dormitory will be built. I thank the Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers who
signed the approval of the Hezekiah Quarter plan. This is yet another important
milestone in the extensive activity we are leading to strengthening settlement in Judea
and Samaria.”
The local resident’s committee released a statement which read, “The Jewish
community of Hebron thanks the government of Israel for its determined decision to
build, together in a joint effort, the City of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. This is
the answer to all deniers of history.
community of Hebron thanks the government of Israel for its determined decision to
build, together in a joint effort, the City of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. This is
the answer to all deniers of history.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein announced, “just a month ago we opened
the new school year with our dear Hebron residents. Next year, we will begin studies
with two additional schools and another kindergarten which the government approved
today. New apartments will be built here for new families and the Jewish settlement in
the city of our forefathers will strengthen even more.”
the new school year with our dear Hebron residents. Next year, we will begin studies
with two additional schools and another kindergarten which the government approved
today. New apartments will be built here for new families and the Jewish settlement in
the city of our forefathers will strengthen even more.”
The land in question is around the corner from the Beit Romano building, today home
to the Shavei Hevron yeshiva. Built in 1876 by Hayyim Yisrael Romano, it was here
that Rabbi Medini completed his monumental Talmudic encyclopedia the Sde Hemed
between the years 1901-1905. Rabbi Medini served as chief Sephardic rabbi of the
city and is buried in the ancient cemetery.
to the Shavei Hevron yeshiva. Built in 1876 by Hayyim Yisrael Romano, it was here
that Rabbi Medini completed his monumental Talmudic encyclopedia the Sde Hemed
between the years 1901-1905. Rabbi Medini served as chief Sephardic rabbi of the
city and is buried in the ancient cemetery.
In 1912, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn of the
Chabad movement, established the Torat Emet Yeshiva on the site after
having purchased the building along with the surrounding grounds. The original
Ottoman land deeds (kushan) are currently displayed in the building along with
other legal documents and photos of the famous rabbis who lived and taught on
site.
Chabad movement, established the Torat Emet Yeshiva on the site after
having purchased the building along with the surrounding grounds. The original
Ottoman land deeds (kushan) are currently displayed in the building along with
other legal documents and photos of the famous rabbis who lived and taught on
site.
During World War I, when the British defeated the Turkish in 1917 and took control of
the Land of Israel, they converted Beit Romano into the headquarters of the British
police.
After the 1929 Hebron massacre, the bodies of the Jewish victims, as well as the wounded
and survivors were held at the site prior to their expulsion from the city.
In 1948, the Jordanians capture Hebron and the building was used as a school
called Madreset Osama, named after Osama ibn Mun-qidh, a
Crusader-era Muslim writer from Syria.
When city finally returned to Jewish hands in the Six Day War of 1967, the seventh
Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, turned over all rights to
previously held Chabad property to the nascent Jewish settlement, giving his
blessing to the young families seeking to repopulate the neighborhoods.
However many in the Israeli government were less than eager to open the newly liberated
territories to the young enthusiastic Jewish idealists. Properties were leased to the
existing Jordanian tenants who turned it into a bus station which existed until the
1980s.
Today, around the corner from Beit Romano, small caravan style trailer
homes are used by students and young families, with a building used by the army
nearby. These will make way for much-needed new housing which will alleviate
crowding and add to the economy. Those who grew up in the Hebron community face the
prospect of moving away after getting married, due to lack of adequate housing. This is
the first new project in Hebron’s Jewish neighborhoods since the 2002 development in Tel
Hevron.
homes are used by students and young families, with a building used by the army
nearby. These will make way for much-needed new housing which will alleviate
crowding and add to the economy. Those who grew up in the Hebron community face the
prospect of moving away after getting married, due to lack of adequate housing. This is
the first new project in Hebron’s Jewish neighborhoods since the 2002 development in Tel
Hevron.
The new neighborhood in located within the small confines of the H2 section
of Hebron, controlled by Israel which includes the Tomb of Machpela. Israelis
are permitted to walk only within the Jewish neighborhoods except on special
occasions.
of Hebron, controlled by Israel which includes the Tomb of Machpela. Israelis
are permitted to walk only within the Jewish neighborhoods except on special
occasions.
By contrast the 80% of Hebron controlled by the Palestinian Authority is
the largest and most industrial of the PA cities. The constant building includes a
new annex to the towering Hebron Center shopping complex, completely off limits to
an Israelis.
the largest and most industrial of the PA cities. The constant building includes a
new annex to the towering Hebron Center shopping complex, completely off limits to
an Israelis.
When the Civil Administration first
announced the preliminary approval earlier this year, the Jewish
community of Hebron responded saying, “building in the City of the
Patriarchs by the Israeli government is a Zionist, just, necessary and blessed step.
Upon receiving the building permit for the Hezekiah Quarter, we congratulate and thank
the Prime Minister and all the ministers, Knesset members and public figures who worked
with determination and dedication together with us to advance the building
permit.”
NOTES:
Friday news items:
Sunday news items:
VISIT HEBRON TODAY!
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
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
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