At the top of Tel Hebron, in the western part of the ancient cemetery, in the Chabad section lies the grave of Rebbetzin Menucha Rachel Slonim, the mother of the Chabad community in the city who passed away on the 24th of Shvat 1888 – 137 years ago this week.
Rebbetzin Menucha Rachel, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe, was born on the day her grandfather – Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Alter Rebbe was released from his imprisonment in Russian prison. The Alter Rebbe, gave her the name Rachel, after his daughter who had died earlier and her first name Menucha, because he said: “We will have consolation (rest).”
When she grew up, she married Rabbi Yaakov Koli Slonim and together they established a Hasidic home.
In 1815, her father the Rebbe sent groups of Hasidic Jews to strengthen the small Jewish community of Hebron. He initiated the purchase of plots of land in the city and purchased the “Small Synagogue” adjacent to the Avraham Avinu synagogue in the old Jewish quarter.
This synagogue was also destroyed in the riots of 1929 and during the Jordanian rule, but was restored and renovated by Chabad of Hebron and is active to this day.
After her father’s passing, her brother-in-law the Tzemach Tzedek became the Lubavitcher Rebbe and leader of Chabad. Upon his advice, Rebbetzin Slonim also immigrated to Hebron with her family in 1845 and soon the Slonim family became instrumental in rejuvenating in the small Jewish community.
The Rebbetzin became famous as a miracle worker and many came to seek her blessing, including her Arab neighbors. The Rebbetzin would happily extend her blessings to them as well, but she made it a condition that they not harm their Jewish neighbors.
It is said that she lived in a building known as the Schneerson House. Seven Jewish families, including my family and I, currently live in the building that belonged to the famous Schneerson family.
However, recent historical examination suggests that the house was probably built several decades later. In addition, one of the famous stories about the Rebbetzin tells of a flood of rainwater that threatened to drown the city and was only stopped when it reached the height of the Shabbat candles in the Rebbetzin’s window.
Even if we deduct many percentages from the dramatic description, we still find that the topographical description does not correspond at all to the location of the building currently called the Schneerson House.
It turns out that the Rebbetzin’s house was not very far away – on what is now known as the main street of the Casbah, a street where quite a few looted Jewish properties are located.
Researchers identify the house in question as the building known as the Beit Ha-Harif (near Kabbalists Courtyard in the heart of the Casbah where access is extremely limited.
Rebbetzin Menucha Rachel Slonim passed away on the 24th of Shvat 1888 – February 6, 1888 and was buried in the Ashkenazic section of the ancient cemetery in Hebron.
Her grave, like the entire plot, was destroyed by rioters after the riots of 1929.
It was not until the mid-1970s that the location of the grave was identified by Prof. Ben-Zion Tavger, thanks to old British aerial photographs and additional measurements of the area.
Prof. Tavger erected a temporary monument at the site, and in 1998, on the 110th anniversary of her death, the gravesite was restored by the renovators of the Jewish community of Hebron.
However, many other graves in this area that were destroyed during the Jordanian regime have not been restored and are still waiting for a breakthrough that would allow their restoration.
In the days lading up to the signing of the Hebron Accords in 1997, it became clear that the plot of land on which the Rebbetzin’s grave was located was intended to be handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Thanks to a wide and diverse outcry from both the public and political sectors, the plot, which is strategically located at the top of Tel Hebron and on the outskirts of a hostile area ultimately remained under Israeli control.
Thus, the Rebbetzin continued to defend the Jewish community of Hebron for decades after her death.
In normal times, a large-scale celebration is held there on the 24th of Shvat, the anniversary of her yahrzeit, with the participation of hundreds of Chabad hasidim from all over the country. This year, the celebration day fell on Shabbat, so in light of this and the blessed rainy weather, a relatively modest celebration took place on Thursday.
The place is open, you can come all year round without the need for special coordination. In the evenings, a permanent Chabad kollel also operates in a nearby building.
Mark it down as a destination for your next visit.
Elimelech Karzen, Hebron, Feb. 2025.
