Thousands of Jews visited Hebron over the weekend to mark the ‘Chayei Sarah’ Torah portion from the Book of Genesis.
Due to the special security situation in the country due to the ongoing war on Israel’s southern and northern borders, the number of visitors was limited this year. Police and military forces were deployed to the area to safeguard the event.
The Torah portion deals with Abraham’s purchase some 3,700 years ago of the Cave of the Patriarchs, considered in Jewish tradition to be the second holiest Jewish site after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the most ancient Jewish site in the world.
Every year, thousands of Jews flock to the ancient cave to observe the Sabbath and read the biblical passages recounting its story.
Despite a number of terror attacks in the Hebron region over the past few months, a senior security official told Hebrew outlet Srugim that “the security situation in the area is under control.”
The reality in Hebron is “complicated,” the official told Srugim ahead of the Chayei Sarah event.
“On the one hand, there’s war in the south and north, and Judea and Samaria are in the middle; we don’t want to turn Judea and Samaria into another fighting front. On the other hand, Hebron is the largest Hamas city in Judea and Samaria, a very religious city. When Hebron raises its head, it always ends badly. It’s always a terror attack that’s not just stone throwing,” he said.
Uri Karzan, CEO of the Committee of the Jewish Community of Hebron, Uri Karzan told Hebrew outlet Arutz 7: “Shabbat Chayei Sarah in Hebron is much more than a religious or historical event. It has become a tangible expression of the deep connection between the Jewish people and their heritage, and it demonstrates the power of solidarity and unity.”
He went on to say that, “This year, more than ever, Shabbat Chayei Sara in Hebron symbolizes the resilience of the Jewish people. It demonstrates how even in challenging times, the deep connection to our heritage and our solidarity continues to exist and even grow stronger. The connection between the past, present and future of the Jewish people in this holy place takes on a special meaning these days.”
