The annual musical prayer gathering took place in Hebron for Passover
online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The week-long Passover holiday usually
includes a music festival with top-name singers from Israel and abroad performing
outside the Tomb of the Patriarchs attracting between 25,000 – 30,000 people. The Hall
of Isaac & Rebecca, the largest in the Tomb complex is opened to the public with
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, chief rabbi of Tzfat leading an inspirational musical prayer
service to crowds from around the country.
online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The week-long Passover holiday usually
includes a music festival with top-name singers from Israel and abroad performing
outside the Tomb of the Patriarchs attracting between 25,000 – 30,000 people. The Hall
of Isaac & Rebecca, the largest in the Tomb complex is opened to the public with
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, chief rabbi of Tzfat leading an inspirational musical prayer
service to crowds from around the country.
This year there were a total of ten people.
Rabbi Eliyahu, joined by a group of locals, recited the morning Shaharit prayers, as
thousands watched live as the gathering streamed simultaneously on Facebook and YouTube.
The Facebook stream alone received over 30,000 views by the end of the
day.
The festive Hallel prayer was led by Rabbi Uriel Saieed on guitar joined by a violinist
and flutist as the participants sang and danced. However, unlike the thousands that
usually attend, each participant was spaced apart and no one held
hands.
The livestreams received numerous positive comments as prayer requests poured in from
around the world.
The Jewish community is continuing its live streaming broadcasts for prayer
services every weekday.
services every weekday.
Prayer times:
Shaharit – 5:50 am
Mincha – 6:55 pm
Maariv – 7:25 pm
Live prayers can be viewed on Hebron’s Hebrew Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/hebron.machpela/
https://www.facebook.com/hebron.machpela/
and on the Jewish community’s YouTube
channel https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronvideo
channel https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronvideo
Prayer requests and names of the sick are being recited by local Jewish
community members. Anyone is free to submit names and prayers using the online form at
http://www.hebronfund.org/send-a-prayer.
community members. Anyone is free to submit names and prayers using the online form at
http://www.hebronfund.org/send-a-prayer.
All gatherings are conducted in accordance with Ministry of Health directives with
proper social distancing.
The courtyard of the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs is one of two public places
designated for prayer services during the coronavirus outbreak. The other is the Western
Wall in Jerusalem.
Yishai Fleisher, the international spokesman for the Jewish community of
Hebron held a virtual tour of the city via Zoom. The tour was one of four cities
featured as part of a special Passover project by the Just One Chesed
organization. The number of participants reached capacity on Zoom and gained even more
views on Facebook.
Hebron held a virtual tour of the city via Zoom. The tour was one of four cities
featured as part of a special Passover project by the Just One Chesed
organization. The number of participants reached capacity on Zoom and gained even more
views on Facebook.
Over Passover the community mourned the passing of Rabbi Eliyahu Baskshi-Doron, former
Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel due to COVID-19.
Rabbi Bakshi-Doron zt”l was one of the great friends of the Jewish Community of Hebron.
He personally knew the residents, participated in many community events, and gave
encouragement to the residents and leadership.
The rabbi had great difficulty walking for the last number of years and, in the absence
of handicapped access, he agreed to be carried in a wheelchair, up and down 100 stairs
to the Tomb of the Patriarchs & Matriarchs. Despite the discomfort, he refused to
miss the opportunity to pray in the holy site.
Born in Jerusalem to an Iranian Jewish immigrant father and a Syrian Jewish mother, the
rabbi studied at several prominent yeshivas including the Jerusalem-based Hebron
Yeshiva, which used to be located in Hebron.
In 1975, he was appointed Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Haifa, where he remained for the next
18 years, eventually leaving in 1993 to gain international renown when he became the
Rishon LeZion, Israel’s Chief Sephardi Rabbi.
The community also mourned the loss of another dear partner of Hebron, Rabbi Leibel
Groner, one of the most prominent figures of Chabad of the last generation. Rabbi Groner
zt”l served as a secretary to the Lubavitcher Rebbe for over 40 years and was a scholar
in his own right. Rabbi Groner visited Hebron many times and has family roots here to
Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel Slonim.
HEBRON CONTACT INFORMATION
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
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
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishcommunityofhebron/
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
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
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebron_machpela/
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES:
