Hebron Prayer Vigil for IDF and Hostages

A moving prayer and cry to Heaven will rise from the Cave of the
Patriarchs & Matriarchs on the eve of Shabbat Parshat Chayei Sarah.

by Noam Arnon

In recent years, it has become tradition that this Shabbat unites tens of thousands of
the people from all around Israel and abroad in Hebron. Residents of Hebron open their
homes and host thousands of guests who come to experience the Torah reading that
describes the purchase of the Cave of Machpela where it happened. Many even get to enter
the structure atop the Cave to be near what is called the entrance to the Garden of Eden
according to the sages in the Midrash. All over Hebron, hundreds of caravans appear and
thousands of tents are set up. Huge tents are built in the square by the Cave of the
Patriarchs & Matriarchs in which thousands enjoy Shabbat
meals.

Anyone who experiences this Shabbat can not forget it and come the next year with
friends and family.

But this year, of course, such a mass event cannot take place due to the directives of
the Home Front Command.

(Although there have been no alarms in Hebron and we are not in in a red
zone.) The Jewish community of Hebron came up with alternative plans through which it is
possible to connect to the Cave of the Patriarchs & Matriarchs even from afar.
First, a website was launched with articles, videos, interactive presentations, photos
and much more are available for free download.  This allows every individual to
feel a bond and a connection to Hebron and the Cave of Machpela for the Shabbat Chayei
Sarah.

In addition, there will be a special prayer vigil on Thursday at 6:00pm Israel time
outside the Cave of the Patriarchs & Matriarchs in which we will raise our voices
for the people of Israel, the victory of the Israel Defense Forces, and the rescue and
return of the abducted. The prayer service will be attended by rabbis, community
leaders, and the families of the fallen and abducted local
residents.

Two abductees are from Kiryat Arba, Eitan Mor and Eliakim Libman, the son of the head of
the council Eliyahu Libman. A special artistic presentation will be projected on the
walls of the Cave of the Patriarchs & Matriarchs which will include pictures of the
abductees, Jewish symbols and symbols of the IDF and the State of Israel, prayers,
chapters from Psalms and more.

The solidarity gathering will be simultaneously broadcast in English online to all over
the world.

The rabbis of Kiryat Arba Hebron, Kabbalists, heads of yeshivot, leaders and activists
of the Jewish community of Hebron will participate in the prayer which will include the
blowing of silver trumpets and shofars.

Guests will include Chief Rabbi of Tzfat Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and others representing
diverse Jewish communities.

The residents of Hebron and Kiryat Arba watch over the City of the Ancestors and the
tombs of the founding fathers and mothers all year round. They maintain the connection
and attachment to the most ancient roots of the people of Israel and work even in these
trying times to connect with the people of Israel and strengthen the spiritual power
that comes from the graves of the ancestors, with the expectation and belief that next
year they will again be able to host tens of thousands, together with all the captives
and abductees who will return to their homes for a normal life and peace, to ascend to
Hebron and connect in a living, active, happy and creative connection, with the heritage
of the fathers and mothers that grows from the depths of the roots the people of Israel
in future generations.

For live stream, special prayer and other Chayei Sarah material click here:
https://hebronfund.org/parsha-chayei-sarah/