“If I came into public office only to establish just one more
neighborhood in the City of the Patriarchs, then let us say, Dayenu –- Enough,” vowed
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett as he lit the Hannukah candles in
Hebron.
neighborhood in the City of the Patriarchs, then let us say, Dayenu –- Enough,” vowed
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett as he lit the Hannukah candles in
Hebron.
The defense minister attended the candle-lighting ceremony at the Tomb of the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs on the eighth and final night of the holiday as a guest of the Jewish
community of Hebron.
“I can’t think of a better place to light the last candle of Hannukah,” he said, just
weeks after pushing through authorization for the next phase in approvals for the
renovation of the old wholesale market
area for residential housing.
Bennett praised both soldiers and residents stating, “Hebron’s wonderful settlers are
full of tremendous heroism, who are growing, developing and building a future here.
Anyone who chooses to live in this wonderful place to me is a hero.”
He added that the city is “the connection of security, life, faith, Torah and roots.
Without our roots and heritage, there is no purpose. It’s an unparalleled connection
that no enemy can face. Hebron is like the heart, and if there is no heart, the body
will not survive.”
The event was attended by Hebron’s mayor Hillel Horowitz, Head of the Kiryat Arba
Council Eliyahu Libman, Head of the Religious Council Yossi Dayan, Head of the Shavei
Hevron yeshiva Rabbi Hananal Etrog, IDF Commander Yaniv Alaluf, Brigadier General Ofer
Winter, Judea Brigade Commander Col. Itamar Ben Haim, Border Patrol Commander Lieutenant
Aviad Katafi, local residents and visitors.
Hebron is arguably the first Jewish community in the world and burial site of the
Biblical founding fathers and mothers. After the 1929 massacre, the Jewish
community was expelled and only returned permanently after the 1967 Six Day War. Since
then the pioneers faced an uphill battle for legal rights to reestablish the abandoned
neighborhoods.
The Hannukah celebrations of recent years have been marked by a growing acceptance of
Hebron in the mainstream of Israeli public life and in the halls of government. This year, IDF soldiers and
high-ranking elected officials joins veteran residents and the new generation in
celebrating the Festival of Light in a series of hannukiyah (Hannukah menorah) lighting
ceremonies held at the Tomb complex and outside in the courtyard. Family-friendly
activties and special guided tours of the city were held as well.
Hebron was the site of a decisive battle during the rebellion of the
Maccabees against the invading Seleucid Empire.
Maccabees against the invading Seleucid Empire.
Hebron’s role in the Maccabean Revolt is mentioned in the apocryphal Book of
the Maccabees and in the works of the historian Josephus.
the Maccabees and in the works of the historian Josephus.
Many of the Hasmonean battles took place in the Mount Hebron region, known
today as the Hebron Hills, or Har Hevron regional council. Communities such as Beit
Tzur were sites of fierce battles won by the Judean rebels.
today as the Hebron Hills, or Har Hevron regional council. Communities such as Beit
Tzur were sites of fierce battles won by the Judean rebels.
I
Maccabees 5:65 states:
Maccabees 5:65 states:
“Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and 20 fought against the
children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns
thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round
about.”
The Antiquities
of the Jews by Josephus Flavius Book 12 Chapter 8 paragraph 6
states:
of the Jews by Josephus Flavius Book 12 Chapter 8 paragraph 6
states:
“But Judas and his brethren did not leave off fighting with the
Idumeans, but pressed upon them on all sides, and took from them the city of Hebron, and
demolished all its fortifications, and set all its towers on fire, and burnt the country
of the foreigners, and the city Marissa.”
Idumeans, but pressed upon them on all sides, and took from them the city of Hebron, and
demolished all its fortifications, and set all its towers on fire, and burnt the country
of the foreigners, and the city Marissa.”
“Simon, having thus, beyond expectation, penetrated into Idumaea
without bloodshed, first of all, by a sudden attack, made himself master of the city of
Hebron, where he possessed himself of a vast booty, exclusive of the large supplies of
corn which he seized.”
without bloodshed, first of all, by a sudden attack, made himself master of the city of
Hebron, where he possessed himself of a vast booty, exclusive of the large supplies of
corn which he seized.”
“If we are to credit the inhabitants, Hebron is not only a town of
greater antiquity than any in that country, but even than Memphis in Egypt, its years
being computed at two thousand three hundred. They relate that Abram, the progenitor of
the Jews, here fixed his abode after his departure from Mesopotamia, and that from hence
his posterity went down into Egypt. Their monuments are still shown in that town, of the
most beautiful marble, and of exquisite workmanship. At the distance of six furlongs, is
pointed out an immense turpentine-tree, which, if
tradition is to be believed, has continued there from the creation until the present
time.”
greater antiquity than any in that country, but even than Memphis in Egypt, its years
being computed at two thousand three hundred. They relate that Abram, the progenitor of
the Jews, here fixed his abode after his departure from Mesopotamia, and that from hence
his posterity went down into Egypt. Their monuments are still shown in that town, of the
most beautiful marble, and of exquisite workmanship. At the distance of six furlongs, is
pointed out an immense turpentine-tree, which, if
tradition is to be believed, has continued there from the creation until the present
time.”
To visit Hebron:
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.com/
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron
at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.com/
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron
at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
See also:
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/
