Over the intermediate days of the Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) holiday, over 60,000 people visited the Cave of the Patriarchs and the ancient city of Hebron.
Sections of the city that are normally closed off to Jewish and Christian tourists throughout the year were opened for the holiday. Tours to these parts of Hebron included armed guards to protect the visitors from the neighboring Arabs. Additionally, the Hall of Isaac in the Cave of the Patriarchs, which is only open 10 days a year to non-Muslims, was opened for the event.
A record number of visitors, estimated at over 40,000, visited the city on one day alone. The main event, a festival sponsored by the Hebron Fund, involved musical performances and speeches by international dignitaries, including members of the Israeli Knesset.
The main theme of this years festival was public unity, as a wide range of people came to the event from all spectrums and walks of life in Israel. Knesset Members from the Jewish Home party as well as the Shas party were in attendance.
MK Eli Yishai (Shas) said that the city of Hebron goes “beyond political divisions” and that the Jewish People can only succeed when untied.
Deputy Minister of Education, MK Avi Wortzman (Jewish Home) took the stage and addressed the ongoing problem of rioting on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He lashed out at the government’s policy and said that it was a mistake to allow terrorists and rioters to determine when Jews should be allowed to visit their holy sites.
Director General of the Jewish Community of Hebron, Uri Karzen, told Israel National News about the pride that the community felt at being able to host record numbers of visitors over this year’s holiday season.
“The event this week summarizes a holy month for the City of the Patriarchs,” he reflected. “Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Selichot, and the rally today – thank God, we were able to bring thousands of people here, and with great success.”
“People talk about the special feeling here – of good, of grandeur, unity, excitement, joy and beauty here,” he continued. “Thank God, that we were able to overcome the rain today and continue to rally as usual.”
“Hebron is a city that never sleeps, and we invite all those who have not come here yet: and encourage them that it is not too late,” he added.
In addition to the rally, two new tourists sites were opened in Hebron: a lookout pointing towards Tel Hebron and a tour of recent archaeological excavations that had revealed an ancient wall of the city.
Other activities over the holiday included a catered lunch, chocolate making workshops, talks and visits to the community sukkah, tours of the grave of Otniel Ben Kenaz,the first biblical Judge, tours of the newly renovated mobile homes in the community, and a trip to pay respects to the bus stop where the three slain teens were kidnapped in June.
The Hebron community is expecting another 30,000 visitors from Israel and around the world on Nov. 15th, the weekend which is customary to visit the city, as the Torah portion in which Abraham purchased the field of the Cave of the Patriarchs is read.
