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Tel Hebron Archaeological Garden Wows Crowd at Grand Opening

The Tel Hebron archaeological garden was inaugurated in a special
ceremony on Wednesday. The excavations are now open to the public where finds from the
Second Temple Era were discovered.


 


Two mikvot (plural for mikvah) were discovered next to wine presses leading
archaeologist to deduce that the winemakers used the ritual baths to purify their bodies
before making wine that was delivered to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. An olive press
for the manufacture of oil was found as well as a pottery kiln which probably made
vessels to store and transport the wine and oil. The traditional steps leading down into
the mikvah is the same used by Jews today.


 


Speaking at the inauguration ceremony was Prof. David Ben Shlomo of Ariel
University, co-director of the excavation. He together with Prof. Emanuel
Eisenberg from the Israeli Antiquities Authority uncovered the finds in 2016 with
the assistance of the Civil Administration’s archaeology unit. 


 


World-renown Israeli singer David D’or performed at the event. Known for
combining his operatic multi-octave vocals with modern pop beats, D’or represented
Israel in the Eurovision song contest and regularly sells out concerts around the
world.


 


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חונכים את אתר תל חברון! עכשיו על הבמה David D’or במופע מיוחד, הצטרפו לשידור
החי!


Posted by ‎חברון – מערת
המכפלה
‎ on Tuesday, October 16, 2018


Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben Dahan, who helped promoted the project said,
“we stand here at the birthplace of Jewish history, in the city of our forefathers, so
that we can educate our children, grandchildren and future generations about
this place. Hebron is the eternal city of the people of Israel and we will never move
from here, nor from anywhere in the entire Land of Israel.”


 


Brigadier-General Achvat Ben-Hur of the Israel Defense Forces Civil
Administration  stated, “we are happy and excited to unveil another piece of Jewish
history and to make it accessible to the general public. The Civil Administration has
been working for a year to excavate the findings and to open an archaeological site that
will attract new tourists to Judea and Samaria.” 


 


Other speakers at the event included Avraham Ben Yosef, head of the Hebron
municipal committee, Member of Knesset Uri Ariel, Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, and Shaul Goldstein, Head of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Prior to the official ceremony, lectures and torus were given by Prof. Gershon
Bar-Kochba, author of the recently published Inscription:
Stone, Wood and Copper in the Cave of the Patriarchs
and Noam
Arnon, author of HaMaarah: Discoveries and Studies at the Cave of
Machpela
.



Earlier in the day prior to the event, an anti-Israel agitator from the Youth
Against Settlements organization attempted to disrupt the site. The foreign funded
Emek Shaveh NGO posted a video on their Facebook page of police maintaining order while
the agitator tried to muscle his way into the archaeological
garden.


 


Tel Hebron is known in Hebrew as Tel Hevron and in Arabic as Tel Rumeida. It
is also home to the Tomb of Jesse and Ruth, a holy site that was venerated for
generations by Jews. Near by are ancient steps that date back to the Bronze Age which
were discovered by Prof. Eisenberg in the 1999 excavations. It was here that one of the
King’s Seals was discovered. Originally uncovered in the 1960s, the LMLK Seal is an
embossed stamp with the words “To the King, Hebron” in paleo-Hebrew. So far
hundreds stamped on pottery shards were discovered throughout the Judea district.
Historians think the clay vessel with bore the seals were royal property distributed
throughout the ancient Jewish kingdom and may have originated in
Hebron.  



Prof. Eisenberg returned to assist the new excavations which are located near the
Cyclopean walls. The dig not only uncovered ancient history, but also helped clear away
the mounds of garbage and debris that collected over the years in the relatively empty
field.



The inauguration comes after a busy period for Hebron. Less than a week ago, UNESCO
bashed Hebron in a document entitled Occupied Palestine. The United Nations body issued
a report that included an annex which declared the Tomb of Machpela an
integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 



Then on Sunday the Israeli government approved the allocation of funds to move the army
base in the Hezekiah quarter to make way for a new 31-unit apartment complex which will
include two kindergartens and a public park. 



The new archaeological park and announcement of the new housing comes weeks before the
annual Shabbat Parshat Chayei Sarah weekend. Tens of thousands are expected to visit
Hebron on the Sabbath in which the Torah portion referencing the Tomb of the Patriarchs
is read. The story of Abraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpela for his beloved wife
Sarah takes on special meaning when read at the very site it happened. 

 

The site is operated by the Nature and Parks Authority and is open to the public twice a
week, on Wednesdays and Fridays. The entrance is free of charge. It is best to
arrange tours in advance by calling 072-221-3660. 

 


NOTES:


 








 



VISIT 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/hebronfund



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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