The Begin Center auditorium was packed on Tuesday evening for the
Hebron book launch. It’s not every year that Hebron residents have books
published, and this year there were three. Each book has a unique story to
tell, and their authors spoke to the crowd about them. In-between each
speech, Israeli musician Mati Arama performed.
Hebron book launch. It’s not every year that Hebron residents have books
published, and this year there were three. Each book has a unique story to
tell, and their authors spoke to the crowd about them. In-between each
speech, Israeli musician Mati Arama performed.
The book launch took place March 13th at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center
in Jerusalem and featured Dr. Gershon Bar-Kochba, author of
Inscription: Stone, Wood and Copper in the Cave of the Patriarchs,
Noam Arnon, author of HaMaarah: Discoveries and Studies at the Cave of
Machpela, and Tzipi Shlissel, author of Hebron Breaks the
Silence.
in Jerusalem and featured Dr. Gershon Bar-Kochba, author of
Inscription: Stone, Wood and Copper in the Cave of the Patriarchs,
Noam Arnon, author of HaMaarah: Discoveries and Studies at the Cave of
Machpela, and Tzipi Shlissel, author of Hebron Breaks the
Silence.
Dr. Bar-Kochba, a historian, lectured with many photos and charts, detailing
the many overlooks mysteries of the Tomb of Machpela structure. For example,
archways, and stone inscriptions reveal the history of the building. Built by
King Herod the Great during the Second Temple Period, the building is
arguably the oldest still- standing structure serving the same function for which
it was built — to memorialize the Matriarchs and Patriarchs buried in the
caves beneath. Dr. Bar-Kochba’s book is filled with color photos of his numerous
excursions in the building, explaining the history dating back to the
Crusader era, the Mamluke conquest and more. Dr. Bar-Kochba has also explored
and cataloged the structures in the former Jewish ghetto of Hebron, today’s
Casbah. He previous published Temple in Flames: The Last Battle
Story together with Aharon Horowitz.
the many overlooks mysteries of the Tomb of Machpela structure. For example,
archways, and stone inscriptions reveal the history of the building. Built by
King Herod the Great during the Second Temple Period, the building is
arguably the oldest still- standing structure serving the same function for which
it was built — to memorialize the Matriarchs and Patriarchs buried in the
caves beneath. Dr. Bar-Kochba’s book is filled with color photos of his numerous
excursions in the building, explaining the history dating back to the
Crusader era, the Mamluke conquest and more. Dr. Bar-Kochba has also explored
and cataloged the structures in the former Jewish ghetto of Hebron, today’s
Casbah. He previous published Temple in Flames: The Last Battle
Story together with Aharon Horowitz.
Arnon, the longtime Hebrew-language spokesperson for the Jewish community
of Hebron, also delved into history during his lecture. He has the unique
distinction of being one of the few people to actually descend into the
underground cave. Back in 1981, Arnon was part of a small team who climbed
into the underground staircase. It was here that they discovered human bones and
pottery fragments, today housed at the Land of Judah Museum in neighboring
Kiryat Arba. The entrance was since sealed up.
of Hebron, also delved into history during his lecture. He has the unique
distinction of being one of the few people to actually descend into the
underground cave. Back in 1981, Arnon was part of a small team who climbed
into the underground staircase. It was here that they discovered human bones and
pottery fragments, today housed at the Land of Judah Museum in neighboring
Kiryat Arba. The entrance was since sealed up.
The brief 1981 excavation was predated by a descent in 1967 overseen by
Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, following the Six Day War. This marked the
first time anyone had explored the cave in the past 700 years. Nevertheless,
these explorations only revealed one corridor of the underground caverns. The
full extent of what lays beneath remains a mystery.
Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, following the Six Day War. This marked the
first time anyone had explored the cave in the past 700 years. Nevertheless,
these explorations only revealed one corridor of the underground caverns. The
full extent of what lays beneath remains a mystery.
Since the 1267, the Mamlukes barred all non-Muslims from entering into
the building. Arnon interviewed the few
people, who before the land was liberated in 1967, were able to unofficially
gain access inside the Tomb of Machpela complex.
the building. Arnon interviewed the few
people, who before the land was liberated in 1967, were able to unofficially
gain access inside the Tomb of Machpela complex.
Shlissel’s book is much more personal. The title being a take on the Breaking
the Silence organization, she discussed the slander of the Jewish
community by anti-Israel activists.
the Silence organization, she discussed the slander of the Jewish
community by anti-Israel activists.
Shlissel’s personal history is detailed in the book. Her grandmother was
a resident of the Old Yishuv of Hebron and survived the bloody 1929 massacre,
after which the British expelled all Jewish residents. Although Arab
residents brutally attacked their Jewish neighbors, upon the instigation of
Haj Amin Husseini (who went on to become a supporter of Adolph Hitler),
Shlissel’s grandmother was one of the many saved by Arabs. An Arab man hid
her and her sister in the back of a store while the mob
attacked.
a resident of the Old Yishuv of Hebron and survived the bloody 1929 massacre,
after which the British expelled all Jewish residents. Although Arab
residents brutally attacked their Jewish neighbors, upon the instigation of
Haj Amin Husseini (who went on to become a supporter of Adolph Hitler),
Shlissel’s grandmother was one of the many saved by Arabs. An Arab man hid
her and her sister in the back of a store while the mob
attacked.
Shlissel moved to Hebron in 1998 after her father Rabbi Shlomo Ra’anan was
murdered by an Arab terrorist. The 63-year-old rabbi fought off an attacker
who had climbed into their window at night. Rabbi Ra’anan was a grandson of
the first Ashkenazic chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak
Kook.
murdered by an Arab terrorist. The 63-year-old rabbi fought off an attacker
who had climbed into their window at night. Rabbi Ra’anan was a grandson of
the first Ashkenazic chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak
Kook.
This personal history is part of the reason Shlissel feels so passionate
about the city. For years she worked at the Hebron Heritage center in the
historic Beit Hadassah museum.
about the city. For years she worked at the Hebron Heritage center in the
historic Beit Hadassah museum.
NOTES:
* HaMaara
by Noam Arnon – Zol Sefer bookseller
by Noam Arnon – Zol Sefer bookseller
* HaMaara
by Noam Arnon – Beit El book publishers
by Noam Arnon – Beit El book publishers
* HaMaara
by Noam Arnon – National Library of Israel
by Noam Arnon – National Library of Israel
* HaMaara
by Noam Arnon – Steimatzky bookseller
by Noam Arnon – Steimatzky bookseller
* Inscriptions
by Gershon Bar-Kochba – Kiryat Arba library
by Gershon Bar-Kochba – Kiryat Arba library
* Inscriptions
by Gershon Bar-Kochba – National Library of Israel
by Gershon Bar-Kochba – National Library of Israel
* Hebron
Breaks the Silence by Tzipi Shlissel – Wikipedia
Breaks the Silence by Tzipi Shlissel – Wikipedia
* Hebron
Breaks the Silence by Tzipi Shlissel –
Steimatzky bookseller
Breaks the Silence by Tzipi Shlissel –
Steimatzky bookseller
* Hebron
Breaks the Silence by Tzipi Shlissel – National Library of
Israel
Breaks the Silence by Tzipi Shlissel – National Library of
Israel
Plan your visit to Hebron today:
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/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
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