Chebron

= Pre-Trip Research... = Andrea Waxman

It is located in the southern West Bank 30 km (19 mi) south of Jerusalem, Hebron was a town in the mountains of Judah, about 3000 feet above the Mediterranean Sea and between Beersheba and Jerusalem, being about 20 miles from each.

Chevron is located in the Judean Hills. Some of its neighborhoods reach the altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. The Old City, also called Qasba in Arabic, and the Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of Machpela are situated on the northern flank of a valley, at an altitude of approximately 860m. This relatively high altitude grants the city cool weather during summertime and abundant rainfalls in winter. Agricultural areas surround the city. Farmers in the Hebron region usually cultivate fruits such as grapes and plums, which makes it one of the most important marketplaces in the Palestinian Territories.

The Meaning of Chevron in Hebrew, is the heart of a wide hilly region. There is also another meaning to the actual word Hebron in Hebrew, which is "connection."

Hebron is the site of the oldest Jewish community in the world, which dates back to Biblical times. Abraham purchased the field where the Tomb of the Patriarchs is located as a burial place for his wife Sarah. According to Jewish tradition, Avraham, Itzchac, and Yacov, as well as Sarah, Rivkah, and Leah are buried in the Tomb. Hebron has a long and rich Jewish history. It was one of the first places where the Avraham resided after he arrived in Canaan. King David was anointed in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years. One thousand years later, during the first Jewish revolt against the Romans, the city was the scene of extensive fighting. Jews lived in Hebron almost continuously throughout the Byzantine, Arab, Mameluke, and Ottoman periods. It was only in 1929 — as a result of a murderous Arab pogrom in which 67 Jews were murdered and the survivors were forced to flee, that the city became temporarily "free" of Jews. After the 1967 Six-Day War, the Jewish community of Hebron was re-established. It has grown to include a range of religious and educational institutions. Hebron contains many sites of Jewish religious and historical significance, in addition to the Tomb of the Patriarchs. These include the Tombs of Othniel Ben Kenaz (the first Judge of Israel) and Avner Ben Ner (general and confidante to Kings Saul and David), and Ruth and Jesse (great-grandmother and father, of King David). Victims of the 1929 pogrom, as well as prominent rabbinical sages and community figures, are buried in Hebron's ancient Jewish cemetery. Three major faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are connected to Hebron by way of Abraham, who is, by all three, revered and respected. Avraham was the one who purchased that part of Hebron known as //Ma’arat ha-Makhpela// in ancient times and therefore it belongs to the Jewish people, because he was the founder of the religion. King David was originally anointed by the tribe of Judah as King of Hebron, until he eventually moved on to Jerusalem. After the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians around 580 BCE, Hebron itself was never the same again. It finally gave way to invading religions and armies from the Edomites to the Muslims. The Byzantine Church invaded in the 6th century and planted itself with Justinian order, then Islam took over and installed a mosque over the Cave of the Patriarchs to make it a place of worship for the Muslims. So technically, every religion having to do with Avraham has taken the land at some point, but as of now, both Jews and Muslims inhabit the area and constantly fight openly.

Hebron is mentioned many times in the Torah. It is also mentioned in holy books of other religions. King David was king of Hebron for a while and Sarah, Avraham, Itzchak, Yaacob, Leah, and Rivkah were all buried on this land. It is very significant to the Jews because all of our forefathers and mothers were buried there, except Rachel.
 * II Samuel 2:11** And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
 * Genesis 23:19** And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (which is in Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

http://www.chabad.org/parshah/in-depth/default_cdo/aid/35875/jewish/In-Depth.htm
 * Parsha:**

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