The Jewish Community of Hebron and the Hebron Fund have produced a
unique coin to celebrate the jubilee anniversary of the city’s
liberation.
unique coin to celebrate the jubilee anniversary of the city’s
liberation.
The 50th anniversary Hebron Citizen Medallion has been minted in bronze
silver and gold and is available to donors worldwide.
silver and gold and is available to donors worldwide.
Hebron is the oldest Jewish community in the world starting with Abraham and Sarah, the
patriarch and matriarch of the Jewish people who came to live in the city over 3,500
years ago. It is in Hebron’s monumental Tomb of Machpela complex that they are buried
along with the other Biblical Matriarchs and Patriarchs Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob and
Leah.
Jewish life in Hebron continued throughout the period of the Bible with King
David making it his first capitol city. The Maccabees fought in the Southern Hebron
Hills region, and the revolt of Shimon Bar Kochba against the Romans took place in the
city.
David making it his first capitol city. The Maccabees fought in the Southern Hebron
Hills region, and the revolt of Shimon Bar Kochba against the Romans took place in the
city.
In modern times, Hebron’s Jewish community both flourished and fluctuated. It became a
haven for the Jewish exiles of the Spanish Inquisition, and a center of Kabbalah where
famous rabbis such as the Reishit
Chocha and Rabbi Shlomo
Adani lived and taught. The community flourished during the Ottoman time, up
until the massacre of 1929.
During this brutal mob riot, 67 Jewish civilians were murdered by their neighbors chided
on by Haj Amin el-Husseini, who later became an ardent supporter of the Nazis. The
community attempted a return several years later, but was expelled by the British who
then controlled the Land of Israel.
It was not until the miraculous victory of the Six Day War in 1967, 50 years ago, that
Jewish people once again had access to this holy city. Rabbi Shlomo Goren, the chief
rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces and later Chief Rabbi of Israel almost single-handedy
liberated the city. He writes in his autobiography that one day after the dramatic
liberation of Jerusalem, he ventured on to Hebron. Thinking he was going to catch up
with the IDF, he and an army driver arrived alone in a jeep to discover the city streets
empty. White flags hung from balconies as the population anticipated a fierce conquest
and revenge for the atrocities of 1929.
Rabbi Goren became the first Jewish person in modern times to freely enter the ancient
Tomb of Machpela building in 700 years and arrange for prayer services there. Unable to
obtain the keys to the massive doors, he shot at the locks with a machine gun. The
bullet holes are still visible. Today, although there is still political tension, people
of all faiths can access Hebron and visit the hometown of the founders of
Monotheism.
The 50th anniversary Hebron Citizen Medallion depicts Rabbi Goren backed with an
Israeli flag and an image of the Tomb of Machpela. The reverse side features the number
50 with the logo of the Jewish Community of Hebron. Only 1,000 of each of the three
coins have been minted and are being offered to donors.
The release of the coin coincides with the celebrations for the jubilee of Hebron
Liberation Day. On Thursday May 25th, thousands of people are expected in the City of
the founding fathers and mothers. Members of Knesset, leading rabbis and other public
figures will be in attendance for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Of special note will
be veterans who fought in the Six Day War and the pioneers who braved the return to
Hebron to reestablish the neighborhoods despite all odds.
A mega concert will take place in the evening featuring two superstars of Israeli music,
Rami Kleinstein and Amir Benayoun. Kleinstein, a singer-songwriter with many pop and
rock hits is a Singer of the Year award recipient and was a judge on Israeli TV’s The
Voice. The Peace Now organization last week blasted the singer stating that his
performance in the “Israeli occupation of Hebron, the symbol of occupation and
oppression, is a climax of moral corruption by an artist who has in the past performed
concerts for peace.”
Hebron spokespeople countered by stating that they have invited artists based on talent
to sing and inspire the audience regardless of political opinion. Kleinstein previously
performed in Kiryat Arba, Hebron’s sister city in 2014. Benayoun last brought his
Sephardic style and Mediterranean vibes to Hebron in 2013. He is an AKUM award winning
composer with a dozen albums. Both will sing in front of the Tomb of Machpela complex in
an special outdoor performance.
The Honorary Citizen Medallion is being offered by the Hebron Fund and can be obtained
by clicking here:
https://hebronfund.org/support/honorary-citizen
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
Israeli contact info:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES:
* “Peace Now” Blasts Singer for
Hebron Concert
* Top Israeli Singers Announced
for 50th Anniversary Hebron Day Concert
* Rabbi Goren in His Own Words:
How I Liberated Hebron
