Hebron Succot festival returns!

After last year’s lockdown due to COVID-19, the annual Hebron Succot
festival returned. Thousands of people attended the music concert and prayer services
and visited archeological sites.

The Hall of Isaac and Rebecca, the largest section of the Tomb of the Patriarchs &
Matriarchs, was open for two days. This area includes the opening into the underground
caves where the Biblical forefathers and mothers Abraham Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca
and Leah are buried.

The concert took place on Thursday and featured Yonatan Razel, who performed his hits
Vehi Sheamah, Katonti and more. Israeli singing sensation Haim Israel performed as
usual, and got the crowd dancing. Children’s choir the Kinderlach sang, as well and new
up-and-coming musicians Kobi Brummer, Yonatan Shainfeld, Aharale Nachshoni and more.
Manny Hollander the “haredi mentalist” also took the stage.

 

 

The Egged bus company provided special transportation for the event which was
co-sponsored by the Jewish Community of Hebron with support from the Israeli Ministry of
Religious Affairs, Committee of the Maarat HaMachpela, Radio Kol BaRama and other
organizations.

 

On Sunday morning, the annual Hallel prayers at dawn took place led by Rabbi
Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Tzfat with musical accompaniment by Rabbi Uriel Saieed.
Participants raised their lulav and etrog as they sang and danced outside the Cave of
Machpela complex in the early hours of the morning. The service is usually inside the
Hall of Isaac, but due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it was moved outside. This
was still a far cry from last year when the country went into full lock-down and a bare
minimum of participants were allowed entry even to the outdoor courtyard. As usual, the
event was live streamed on the Hebron
Facebook page.