<BGSOUND SRC="LechaEtten.mid" LOOP=INFINITE>

"Chevron - City of Our Fathers"

My friends and I could sense something special in the air, something that would bring us all closer together. And then it began. The men in shul began stamping their feet and tapping to the rhythm. Then they began to sing, their harmonious voices blending together to form this unique feeling. The love for Shabbos overtook any previous uneasiness. The tunes were common ones, yet we had never heard them sung with such power and strength. Their clothing nor their views made a difference ; they were here together to share the one thing they had in common : their faith. Welcome to Chevron. Chevron has been a point of controversy between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and it would be easy to assume this is merely a pawn in a political game. However, Chevron is so much more than just another bargaining chip, and it wasn't until my trip to Chevron that I realized this. I had traveled to Chevron from America with a few of my friends. Our hope was to have an uplifting experience, and to learn a little more about the Jewish people and the history in Chevron. During our visit, we learned so much and the things we encountered were beyond our wildest expectations. Now, Shabbos was here, and we hoped it would be the supreme culmination of a wonderful trip to Chevron. As the men sang, my heart ached with a spiritual, indescribable pain, gripping me and moving me immeasurably. I sat down to recite the special Friday evening prayer to greet the Shabbos. In my mind, I retraced my steps during this incredible journey through Chevron. On our tour through Chevron, we climbed up many mountains and through many caves. One particular climb led us to the top of an ancient fortress. This archaic stronghold is the highest point of Chevron within the Jewish territory. From this point, we were able to see the entire city of Chevron. A soldier stood there on guard with a pair of binoculars. We borrowed the binoculars and viewed the city. We were awestruck. This was the city which our father Abraham had first dwelled in, where King David had established his kingdom for seven years. We were able to visit the holiest sight in all of Chevron, Mearat Hamachpelah, the Tomb of the Patriarchs. Mearat Hamachpelah is the cave which Abraham had bought from Ephron in ancient times. It is the burial grounds of our forefathers and our mothers, and is also the entrance of the Garden of Eden. This cave has a tremendous intangible value to the Jewish people. It is a spot where we pay tribute to our ancestors, to pray and beg them to pray on our behalf. As we had learned in school, the double cave was purchased by our Patriarch Abraham as a burial site for his wife, Sora. The cave and the field surrounding it were bought at full value, the then-enormous sum of four hundred shekels of pure silver. The secret to the double cave was only known by Adam, and by our Patriarchs. To us, the mysterious significance and holiness which it retains is well known. Millions of Jews have come from all over the world to pour out their hearts at this very spot. Imagine the irony ; Abraham took great lengths to specifically purchase the very land in Chevron the government is attempting to give away! The actual cavern is hidden under the current structure. The structure was built as an arena for people to congregate in, to serve as a spiritual link with our forefathers. The cave itself is unbelievably mysterious. Its composition and layout has boggled many historians and there is a legend that no one enters the cave come out alive. The holy significance of this spot lies within the fact that it is the opening to the Garden of Eden. Our forefathers were laid down to rest here, and are not dead, but rather "sleeping" until the coming of the Messiah. It is for this reason that we go to the cave to cry out in prayer to "the slumberers of Chevron." We were spiritually overwhelmed at the sight of the cave, and the whole experience. As we left the cave area, we passed the Israeli soldiers patrolling the zone. Their metal detectors brought us back to reality, and only then did I realize the damage that the political conflict was inflicting on the Jewish people. Yet through all their troubles, the people in Chevron live with a sense of unity and friendliness. Neither my friends nor I had ever been a part of such a wonderful group, and never before had we spent a Shabbos with such beauty and emotion. It was a memory we will never forget. It was a once in a lifetime experience. Too often, people look at the current dispute over Chevron, and see it as strictly a political issue. The government has offered the people of Chevron many incentives to back down and allow the Palestinians to take Chevron. The Jewish people have resisted. My time in Chevron showed me that the religious worth of the land is immeasurable. The incredible love and emotion for Mearat Hamachpelah, Chevron, and Judaism is too much to give up.

View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook

Thanx to LE7G for bumper sticker pics