A mega event marking the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Hebron
was held at the foot of the Tomb of Machpela on Thursday.
was held at the foot of the Tomb of Machpela on Thursday.
A special light display projected images on the 2,000-year-old walls of the Tomb of
Machpela complex including a giant Israeli flags, geometric images and scenes of
Hebron’s history.
Introductory speakers included community leader Rabbi Hillel Horowitz,
spokesperson Noam Arnon, director of the municipality Uri Karzen, Mayor Avraham Ben
Yosef, head of the Nir Yeshiva Rabbi Eliezer Waldman and Member of
Knesset David Azoulay (Shas).
spokesperson Noam Arnon, director of the municipality Uri Karzen, Mayor Avraham Ben
Yosef, head of the Nir Yeshiva Rabbi Eliezer Waldman and Member of
Knesset David Azoulay (Shas).
A video greeting from various elected officials was shown which included
words of support from Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein, MK Ayoub Kara (Likud),
MK Sharren Haskel (Likud), MK Amir Ohana (Likud), MK Oded Forer (Yisrael
Beitenu), MK Nava Boker (Likud), MK Oren Hazan (Likud), MK Mordechai Yogev (Bayit
Yehudi), MK Betzalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi), and more.
words of support from Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein, MK Ayoub Kara (Likud),
MK Sharren Haskel (Likud), MK Amir Ohana (Likud), MK Oded Forer (Yisrael
Beitenu), MK Nava Boker (Likud), MK Oren Hazan (Likud), MK Mordechai Yogev (Bayit
Yehudi), MK Betzalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi), and more.
After that, the central event began with Rami Kleinstein, a multi-platinum selling
singer-songwriter who won a Singer of the Year award and was a judge on Israeli
TV’s The Voice. Kleinstein had been pressured by Peace Now not to perform in Hebron
because it is part of the land of Judea liberated from Jordan during the Six Day War of
1967 which they would like to see relinquished in the name of peace.
The singer stated,
“I was pressured not to perform here but we must
remember that music aims to connect between one another and bridge differences of
opinion. My goal is to create music that reaches every person, regardless of the color
of his skin or his political opinions. It is very sad that the word boycott should be
associated with culture and music, there is no room for it and I certainly will not lend
a hand to it. I hope that one day we will understand the phrase love your neighbor as
yourself.”
remember that music aims to connect between one another and bridge differences of
opinion. My goal is to create music that reaches every person, regardless of the color
of his skin or his political opinions. It is very sad that the word boycott should be
associated with culture and music, there is no room for it and I certainly will not lend
a hand to it. I hope that one day we will understand the phrase love your neighbor as
yourself.”
Kleinstein sang and played piano as he performed his pop and rock
hits as well as traditional Biblical Psalms. He dedicated one song to his now pregnant
wife .This was Kleinstein’s first performance in Hebron although he played in the sister
city of Kiryat Arba in 2014.
hits as well as traditional Biblical Psalms. He dedicated one song to his now pregnant
wife .This was Kleinstein’s first performance in Hebron although he played in the sister
city of Kiryat Arba in 2014.
Also performing was Amir Benayoun, an AKUM award winning composer,
singer and guitarist with a dozen albums who last brought his Sephardic style
and Mediterranean vibes to Hebron in 2013.
singer and guitarist with a dozen albums who last brought his Sephardic style
and Mediterranean vibes to Hebron in 2013.
The celebrants were congratulated by Education Minister Naftali Bennett
(Bayit Yehudi), who reviewed the history of Hebron throughout the generations from the
time of Abraham who bought the Cave of Machpela from Efron the Hittite, through Caleb
ben Yefune who scouted out the land, King David who made the city his first capital,
until the liberation of Hebron in the Six Day War.
(Bayit Yehudi), who reviewed the history of Hebron throughout the generations from the
time of Abraham who bought the Cave of Machpela from Efron the Hittite, through Caleb
ben Yefune who scouted out the land, King David who made the city his first capital,
until the liberation of Hebron in the Six Day War.
At the end of the speech, the minister made a special note of thanks to the
families who renewed the Jewish neighborhoods, especially the late Rabbi Moshe
Levinger.
“Who would have believed that thanks to Rabbi Levinger and those families we will see
the masses here today,” he stated. ‘From here the power will come to the leaders of
Israel. We will stand strong and remember that our Land of Israel is
ours.
Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben Dahan (Bayit Yehudi) announced that the
excavations in Tel Rumeida /Tel Hevron are nearing completion.
excavations in Tel Rumeida /Tel Hevron are nearing completion.
“I am happy to announce that you will soon be able to come here to Hebron,
the City of the Patriarchs, and see where our roots were planted as a people,” he said.
“In the past year, together with the heads of the Jewish community of Hebron, we have
accelerated the process of cleaning up the site, completing the excavations, and in a
few weeks you will be able to visit archaeological sites that illustrates the extensive
Jewish history in this city.”
the City of the Patriarchs, and see where our roots were planted as a people,” he said.
“In the past year, together with the heads of the Jewish community of Hebron, we have
accelerated the process of cleaning up the site, completing the excavations, and in a
few weeks you will be able to visit archaeological sites that illustrates the extensive
Jewish history in this city.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) also addressed the audience
stating,
stating,
“The people of Israel returned home to the forefathers and mothers of the nation, and I
would like to thank the pioneers of the settlement of the land. We pledge to continue to
build, build and build.”
REFERENCES:
* Rami Kleinstein in
the Tomb of the Patriarchs – Haaretz
the Tomb of the Patriarchs – Haaretz
* Rami
Kleinstein: I will not lend a hand to a boycott – Arutz Sheva
Kleinstein: I will not lend a hand to a boycott – Arutz Sheva
* Rami Kleinstein
performs in Hevron, dismisses critics – Israel National News
performs in Hevron, dismisses critics – Israel National News
* Singer-songwriter
won’t cave in to pressure – Israel National News
won’t cave in to pressure – Israel National News
* Hevron celebrates 50
years with star-studded gala event – Israel National News
years with star-studded gala event – Israel National News
VISIT HEBRON TODAY!
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
Israeli contact info:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES:
* “Peace Now” Blasts Singer for Hebron Concert
* Top Israeli Singers Announced for 50th Anniversary Hebron Day Concert
* Rabbi Goren in His Own Words: How I Liberated Hebron
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
Israeli contact info:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES:
* “Peace Now” Blasts Singer for Hebron Concert
* Top Israeli Singers Announced for 50th Anniversary Hebron Day Concert
* Rabbi Goren in His Own Words: How I Liberated Hebron
