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. Noam Arnon
July 18, 2013
Some people you encounter can change your life. As Rabbi Levinger before him, meeting with Prof. Tavger changed my life, and the history of Hebron in recent times.Looking back, it was not at all obvious. Professor Tavger was very far from the definition of a "charismatic leader." I did not know him in his courageous Zionist activity and struggle against Communist rule in the Soviet Union. All of these, like his great scientific achievements were for us, a small group of young people gathered around him in Hebron somewhere in the mid-seventies, a distant rumor. He was not the leader that leads enthusiastic crowds to a decided goal, not an exciting speaker who persuades a cheering crowd.He knew quite basic Hebrew, and spoke calmly, using simple language. Actions were quiet and minimalist, reflecting a personal example, substantive action and hard work. The logic that led him at first seemed to us strange and unacceptable. Nevertheless, in the end, he was a man not to be forgotten, a mentor to many, leading the redemption of Hebron in our generation.Ben Zion Tavger was a prominent physicist in the Soviet Union of the 1960s. He was recognized by the Soviet government as a result of his talents and was appointed a Senior Researcher, but even then he was not satisfied with the status quo, but combined with remarkable bravery, the struggle for Jewish identity and Zionism. The list of his scientific publications is at least as the list of arrests and harassment he suffered. But in the end, he was victorious over the Soviet empire, and was able to break through the iron curtain and make aliyah to Israel, his primary objective. As a result of his scientific achievements, he was invited by Prof. Yuval Ne'eman to join the faculty of Tel Aviv University.But Tavger, the freedom fighter and seeker of justice, could not be satisfied with tranquility and a prestigious Chair at Tel Aviv University. The late Haim Magni, Hebron’s first tour guide, introduced Tavger to the disgraceful situation at the ancient Jewish Quarter, left in ruins. He was shocked at the condition of the Avraham Avinu synagogue, which had been transformed into a garbage dump and animal pen.
Equally shocking was the fact that the destruction of the synagogue and its transformation into an animal pen were "legal" and acceptable actions according to the Israeli government. The original explanation given by the government attorneys (yes, even then) regarding this position was that during the 19 years of Jordanian occupation, the Jordainian authorities confiscated the property of Hebron community and declared it "Zionist enemy possessions". Now when the "Zionist enemy" returned and became sovereign territory, they continued to recognize the legality of the theft of Jewish property and its destruction, and continued to rent to the Arabs who chose to place there an animal pen .
This reality managed to shock even Professor Tavger, who had experience struggling with a totalitarian rule. Among other struggles while in Russia there was a struggle for the establishment of a monument in memoriam of the Jews murdered by the Nazis at Babi Yar near Kiev. He was one of the activists who managed to prevent the desecration of the Jewish graves and motivate the government to build a memorial monument, But what he saw in Hebron were things he never saw even in Russia. "When a window gets smashed in a synagogue in Moscow, you can hear about it all over the world, and here there is a ruined synagogue, sitting beneath waste and stinking cattle dung, and that no one is talking about," he said. In his perspective this was, as he defined," Status quo of a pogrom. "When he began to try to find out what was the matter, he realized that the settlers in Kiryat Arba were still waiting for the government to decide to redeem the synagogue. Tavger, who never studied at "Yeshivat Merkaz Ha'Rav" and wasn't part of Gush Emunim, was not used to waiting for the government. "If a Jew sees a dirty synagogue - he needs to clean it, and not wait for the government to do it," he said. He did more than just talk about the situation, he entered the animal pen, and began clearing the trash with his own hands . The intensity of justice and truth that came from this operation were making waves. We were a few young guys and we couldn't just stand by, we joined him and his assistant, Eliezer Breuer, and got to work. It wasn't easy; it was a great effort: we removed, with our hands and wheelbarrows, tons of debris, garbage, trash and filth, with swarms of flies, next to the stinking bathrooms the Arabs built.But it was no less difficult for us knowing that for the State of Israel - the destruction of the synagogue and the location of the animal pen instead of the synagogue, were legal, and we, who are trying to clean up and reclaim it, we were considered "lawbreakers". Professor Tavger was taken into custody, time after time. But he continued quietly, professionally and politely, and without tumult, he would get in a police car, and when he returned - he continued to work.This silence cried more than any outcry or demonstration. This silence ultimately led to public assistance and political activities of the Hebron Community leadership, Rabbi Levinger and others, leading to exposure of the synagogue and approval to renovate and rebuild it., After completion of the first stage of this project I became responsible uncovering and renovation of the synagogue. It's interesting to note that the approval to start the renovations were give to us by none other than those who were Prime Minister and Minister of Defense - Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres.Today, The Abraham Avinu Synagogue in Hebron has been rebuilt and restored to glory. It constitutes proof of the power of a single person, dedicated to a goal, quietly working, and proof of the power of truth to permeate, influence and change reality.
The lesson in democracy, in humility, in devotion and personal example that he taught, will never be forgetten. Tonight in Kiryat Arba, a Memorial Symposium will be held in his memory. Among the speakers who will take part in this event: Beni Katzover, Moshe Feiglin, Yehuda Etzion, Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabbi Israel Ariel, Dr. Shifra Mishlov and many more.Even 30 years after his death, the story of Prof. Ben Zion Tavger's struggles, actions and achievements, the Avraham Avinu Synagogue, the Old Cemetery, the Tomb of the Patriarchs, and more – have become a cornerstone and another chapter in the history of Hebron, a history of 4000 years of the first Hebrew city, renewed and restored in our generation.
Record-breaking visitors for Shabbat Chayei Sarah
Approximately 35,000 people visited Hebron on Shabbat for the annual reading of Parshat Chayei Sarah, breaking records for all previous years. The Cave of Machpela was open in its entirety for the day, as the Torah portion describing the ancient site was read.
The Hebron Fund rented a dormitory, apartments and other spaces for their guests. Thousands of tents and hundreds of trailers dotted the city in a festival atmosphere and about 4,000 people dined at huge hospitality tents sponsored by Chabad of Hebron.
Among the guests were Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, and Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel, Environmental Protection Minister Ze'ev Elkin, Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, Member of Knesset Moti Yogev, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Aryeh Stern, Chief Rabbi of Tzfat Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Beersheba Yehuda Deri, radio talk show host and noted lawyer Yoram Sheftel, and popular musicians such as Dudu Fisher, Sruli Hersh, Dov Heller, Hezki Sofer, Sinai Tor and others.
Uri Karzen, director of the Jewish Community of Hebron stated that the number of participants was at an "all-time high" and "a special day for Hebron and for Jewish people around the world." he added, "in the near future we will host people in the new buildings which are being planned for the Hezekiyah Quarter."
The community also thanked the Israel Defense Forces and police who were responsible for security, crowd control and logistics. Many top commanders joined the community for a Friday night Shabbat meal and spoke to a group of tourists about their sense of pride in helping assist for such an event.
The Hebron Fund, the official sponsor of The Jewish Community of Hebron, hosted a VIP Chayei Sarah Program featuring catered meals, hot kiddush, tours, onegs, speakers, great accommodations and round-trip coach bus transportation. Over 250 people attended their program this year.
Rabbi Daniel Rosenstein, Executive Director of The Hebron Fund said ‘the Israelis, especially the soldiers, are amazed that Jews would fly in just for the weekend. The Americans shrug it off and express appreciation for the residents of Hebron who live there all year."
Fortunately, hosting the Members of Knesset and IDF Commanders allows us to have a top-notch program and everyone feels connected. The prayer services, led by Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum and Chazzan Sruli Hersh inspire people's souls in ways they haven't felt before. "Our success is due to a team effort of our extraordinary staff and donors. It's just an amazing Shabbat and we make it easy to attend” said Rabbi Rosenstein.
The Hebron Fund also hosted Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI) led by Helen Freedman, Judy Freedman Kadish and Ken Abramowitz. Some alumni from the Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC), who are learning in Israel this year, were there to enjoy the festivities as well.
The Jewish Community of Hebron, celebrated two recent successes in the past several months. The first was official status as a separate municipality by the Israeli government. This enables the local community to take care of municipal services such as garbage pick up and other maintenance that previously was neglected by the Hebron municipality run by the Palestinian Authority.
The second big news item was the announcement of 31 new housing units to be built in the Hezekiyah neighborhood. The project which was on hold for years finally achieved approval and will help ease the demand for housing. The new apartment complex will be build next to the Beit Romano building, which as built in 1876. It was here that Rabbi Haim Hezekiyah Medini, lived and worked on his talmudic encyclopedia the Sde Hemed.
The picnic-like atmosphere filled the streets as people shared food, sang Shabbat songs, and toured the historic buildings such as Beit hadassah, built in 1893, the Avraham Avinu synagogue, built in 1540 by refugees from the Spanish Inquisition, and the Tomb of Jesse and Ruth, located in the Tel Hevron archaeological park.
One site that was difficult to visit was the Tomb of Otniel Ben Knaz, the first Judge as listed in the Bible. Located in the Palestinian Authority controlled zone of Hebron, this year, only a small group was allowed in due to security reasons.
On Thursday night, 250 people visited the Elonei Mamre archaeological site, also within the Palestinian Authority area. Organized by the Midreshet Hevron college, the trip included lectures about its historic significance as a structure built by King Herod the Great, a site of pagan worship, and for a time, a Byzantine church. As it's name indicates, some researchers believe it to be the location of Biblical Mamre where Abraham and Sarah lived.
The main attraction of course that the towering Tomb of Machpela complex, built by King Herod about 2,000 years ago. The structure houses the underground burial caves where the Matriarchs and Patriarchs of the Jewish people were buried as recorded in the Book of Genesis. The Hall of Isaac and Rebecca the largest in the building was open to the public, an occurrence which takes place only 10 times throughout the year due to a rotation agreement with the Muslim Waqf.
In a scene reminiscent of the Lag BaOmer festival in Meron, and other mass Jewish gatherings, the thousands that prayed, sang, ate and rejoiced on the Sabbath day seemed to appreciate significance of the day. After Shabbat, a generous donor to the Hebron Fund sponsored a massive barbecue for the security services including steaks and loud music. Attendees walked away physically and spiritually complete.
The Hebron Fund is now accepting inquiries into next year’s program and can be reached at (718) 677-6886. They have been challenged with an online matching grant opportunity. Details will be available at the beginning of December.
Welcome to the NEW Hebron Fund website! If you've visited the previous site, you can see we have upgraded everything! You can still book a tour, learn about our efforts in Hebron and Ma'arat Hamachpela or donate on our secure server. Enjoy your virutal visit to Hebron, we look forward to greeting all of our supporters soon in Hebron!
. Chayei Sarah Weekend. Register today!
Thursday Nov 9 - Sun Nov 12
THE HEBRON FUND
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
P: 718.677.6886
F: 718.677.6883
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