Hebron Celebrates Modern Purim Miracle, Supports Arrested Soldier

In the 1800s, the Jewish Community of Hebron used to celebrate what was
called the Window Purim, in
which the residents were saved from the edicts of a cruel Ottoman Pasha. The
days of Sultan’s empire are gone, but threats remain. 

 

This past week, the community celebrated what they called a modern day Purim
miracle, when two terrorists stabbed a
soldier and attempted to continue attacking before they were shot by
quick-thinking Israel Defense Force soldiers. 

 

While one soldier is recovering from stab wounds, another is in army prison
when it was questioned whether or not his shooting of one of the terrorist, after
he was already on the ground, was justified. A video depicts emergency personnel on the
scene shouting about the possibility of a hidden bomb under the terrorist’s
unseasonable heavy coat. Because the terrorist was still moving, the soldier, fearing
the detonation of an explosive device, shot him in the head.

 

The day after the incident, the Jewish Community of Hebron issued a press
release supporting the soldier. It reads as 

follows:

 

 

Several days later, the community held a rally to support the IDF. A press
release regarding the event read:

“Residents of the Jewish community of Hebron and its supporters held a rally
in support of our soldiers near the Admot Ishai / Tel Hevron  neighborhood
where the stabbing incident took place. We support our soldiers dedicated to defending
the citizens of Israel and the city of the Matriarchs and
Patriarchs.”

 

 

Similar rallies were held in other parts of the country such as near the army
prison where the soldier is potentially 

being charged with murder. Within days an online petition supporting the
soldier gained 35,000 signatures.

The stabbed soldier was reported still conscious and walking around despite
multiple stab wounds. He was rushed to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem for
treatment.

 

The Purim stabbing is the latest in a series of attacks which the IDF have
successfully thwarted. Last Saturday, an attacker was shot and killed after
stabbing a Border Police officer near the Tomb of Machpela. On March 14th, two armed
terrorists were killed after they made a sharp u-turn into Kiryat Arba, adjacent to
Hebron, and began shooting at security personnel. The IDF returned fire, killing the
attackers. In a separate incident one the same day, a terrorist rammed his vehicle into
a bus near Kiryat Arba and was killed by the IDF.

 

Meanwhile the annual 2-day Purim celebration took place as normal, despite
the stabbing which took place only hours before the planned start of the
festivities. The Jewish community asserted that the soldiers on duty protect not only
the Israeli residents, but also residents of the Palestinian Authority who live in
PA controlled Hebron and who also suffer from the terrorist infrastructure that disrupts
daily life. Soldiers stationed in Hebron also protect the rest of the country,
as statistics show that a disproportionate amount of terrorists emanate from the
city and often attempt to infiltrate into 

major Israeli population centers. 

 

 

The previous night, over 7,000 visitors came to Hebron to mark the end of the
Fast of Esther, which is held the day before Purim. The visitors were from the
Breslov Hasidic movement and held prayer services outside the Tomb of Machpela.
Fifty buses from Jerusalem and 30 buses from other cities around Israel arrived to
bring people to the ancient burial site of the Biblical Matriarchs and
Patriarchs. 

 

 

Purim is traditionally celebrated on the 14th month of Adar, and in
Jerusalem, on the 15th, as it is a walled city, as it 

states in the Scroll
of Esther. 

 

 

But in many cities where there is a question as whether the city is
historically a walled city or not, there is often a 2

-day celebration. Such is the case on Hebron, and tours were conducted of the
archaeological excavations where walls 

thought to date back to the time of the Biblical leader Joshua have been
uncovered. 

 

Researchers believe the wall was used all the way until the First Temple
period. Hebron was also a city of refuge and thus the walls were designed to allow
easy access in all directions. 

 

 

The next major holiday to be celebrated is Passover and the community is
gearing up for the annual Passover music festival in which thousands of visitors
from around the country are expected. 

 

To arrange your visit to Hebron, click here:

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‘Neutralized’ Terrorist

* Soldier
says terrorist moved, could have set off a bomb