Hebron stands strong during Holidays despite pandemic

 

Hebron residents used online resources to stream prayer services and music
performances during the High Holiday season of 5781 due to the COVID-19
lockdowns, bringing joy to viewers around the world.

 

The Slichot prayer gathering led by Israel’s two chief rabbi’s was seen by
over 16,000 people on YouTube alone. Facebook and other social media was utilized to
bring the spirit of the City of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs to those in
quarantine.

 

High Holidays in Hebron are usually a festival affair, attracting tens of thousands of
people to the Slichot prayer service, Succot Music Festival, the Women’s Gathering and
other events. The Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs has historically been a
pilgrimage site for people from far and wide. Last year there were over 1 million
tourists, the most ever recorded. This year, tourism has ranged from minimal to
zero, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

The first of the Hebrew month of Elul has been a special time to visit
Hebron, going back generations. This year a small delegation of revered rabbis made the
pilgrimage. These included  the Aleksander Rebbe, the Lelov
Rebbe, Elimelech Biderman of the prestigious Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei
Brak, Rabbi Shalom Arush of the Breslov hasidic movement and author of the
popular Garden of Emuna series, and other spiritual leaders. By contrast, last
year over 10,000 people attended the Hilulat Avot – commemoration of the
Patriarchs on Rosh Hodesh Elul which is a typical crowd.

 

ROSH HASHANNAH

 

Rosh Hashannah prayers took place inside the ancient Tomb of Machpela, where the
founding fathers and mothers of the Jewish people have their final resting place. The
Torah readings that tell the story of Abraham and Isaac are key features in the Rosh
Hashannah prayers.

 

Entry was limited in the historic Herodian-era complex to prevent the spread of the
virus. Most services were held outside at the Rochelle Berkowitz Plaza.

 

The Hebron Fund has offered their popular artists calendar for free online. The
2020-2021 calendar has both Hebrew and English dates and features gorgeous artwork by
local residents. To download click
here.

 

TEN DAYS OF REPENTANCE

 

The Ten Days of repentance are a time of reciting prayers of penitence. The annual Women’s gathering and
music concert has in the past featured Sarit Hadad and other popular Israeli musicians.
This year it was unfortunately cancelled.

 

The annual Slichot prayers with Israel’s chief rabbis was able to be held online and
attended by residents only, who were kept socially distant.

 

 

Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi David Lau and Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef led the
outdoor services. Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu gave a introductory lecture. He is the son of the
late Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu who launched the event decades ago and currently
serves as Chief Rabbi of Tzfat.

 

Rabbi Eliyahu returned to lead a special Succot hallel service which was streamed
live.

 

Other distinguished guests included Rabbi Uri Saied, Rabbi Hillel Horowitz, head of the
Hebron City Council, Eliyahu Libman, head of the Kiryat Arba City Council, Yosef Dayan,
head of the regional religious council, and others. The evnt included a musical
performance by native Hebron Hils area musician
Binyamin Landau.

 

 

There were also small limited prayer services, one of which featured traditional
Sephardic piyyutim, or liturgical poems led by world famous Israeli-Moroccan singer
Emil Zrihan, Minister of Religious Affairs Yaakov Avitan, Rabbi Asher Medina, and head
of the regional religious council Rabbi Yosef Dayan.

 

 

YOM KIPPUR

 

On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, services were held outside in accordance with
the Israeli Ministry of Health’s directives. This year was reminiscent of a well-known
Hebron legend that harkens back to the days when the city struggled with plagues and
epidemics.

 

The 1648 book Emek ha-Melekh related the story of the Tenth Man for
the Minyan, in which a mysterious stranger arrived just in time to help complete the
prayer quorum for Yom Kippur. When the fast ended, the Jewish community wished to thank
him, but the stranger has wandered off and disappeared. In a dream the cantor of the
synagogue was told it was none other than the Patriarch Abraham himself who had come to
help them. The famous Avraham Avinu synagogue is
named for this tale.

 

This year, after Yom Kippur ended, the community was deeply saddened to learn that Rabbinit Miriam Levinger has
passed away. She and her husband Rabbi Moshe Levinger were pioneers in rebuilding the
Jewish community. She was a modern day matriarch and inspiration to all. As a testimony
to how far the community has come due to her efforts, Mrs. Levinger was mourned by
numerous Members of Knesset, and elected officials including the President of the State
of Israel, Reuven Rivlin.