VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM

Hevron panorama

Hevron has been part of Jewish history ever since Abraham bought the field and cave of Machpelah there, as a family burial site. With Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca, Jacob and Leah buried there, as recorded in Berishis/Genesis, it is known as 'Ir Ha'avot' - The City of the Forefathers'. This card shows a panorama of the city, with Herod's monumental complex covering the original cave and field.

Hevron.City scene

Cave of Patriarchs.engraving

This 19th century black and white engraving pictures the structure built over the Cave of Machpelah, the original burial site, and the centerpiece of the city. Herod the Great built the imposing structure over the cave site before the beginning of the common era. Mamelukes (1260s) added the 2 minarets, converting it into a Mosque. The walls are similar to those that Herod built around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The 2000 year-old building remains intact.

Hevron.15.steps to Mosque.pc 001 (2)

Soon after the Egyptian Mamelukes captured the Land, they banned all non-Moslems from entering the building. Starting 1267, visitors could only ascend to the 7th step. This remained in effect until Israeli control in 1967!

'Tombs' of Isaac and Rebecca

The main enclosed structure changed Christian & Moslem hands several times. Designed as a Mosque, today it is shared by Arabs & Jews. This large hall holds cenotaphs (empty tomb monuments) marked 'Issac' and 'Rebecca'. Nearby are others marked for the patriarchs & their wives. Strongly divided between Jews & Arabs, each group gets full control of the chamber for 10 days each year.

Tomb from above

This aerial view looks down into the complex plaza. The main rectangular structure alternated through the centuries between church and mosque. Today it is also used as a prayer hall for Jews, on the 10 days when it is reserved for them. The smaller domed structures contain the cenotaphs of Abraham and Sarah. Adjacent to Abraham's is an outdoor synagogue used daily.

The Cave Underneath.illustration

In the Hall of Isaac there is an opening that leads to stairs and an underground walkway and chamber. Below that there is a double cave, perhaps what was referred to as 'Machpelah'. Masonry in the tunnel is evidence that ancient activity took place down here. Stone slabs conceal what may be behind them.

Shador letter.1890.Franco

The Jewish community was re-established in the 1200s and grew during the Ottoman period, especially with Spanish exiles - Sepharadim. This 'Shador' letter to a Rabbi Fishman in Fassburg, Germany introduces Moshe Melamed, an emissary on behalf of the poor community. Seals of R' Rahamim Yosef Franco, Chaim Romano, and the Sephardic community. Ca. 1890. Rashi script.

Hevron.33.notes or letter.1881 001 (2)

S M Mani.signed letter.1919 001 (2)

R' Suleiman Menachem Mani (1850-1924) was chief rabbi of Hevron beginning 1901. Parents came from Iraq. His last name Mani stands for 'from the House of David', preserving his distinctive lineage. This signed and sealed letter is dated 1919.

Ch Ch Medini postcard.1903 front 001 (2)

Haim Hezkiya Medini (1833 - 1904) ordained at 13, orphaned young, was born in Jerusalem and served as rabbi abroad. Settled in Hevron 1901, respected by Jews and Arabs. This postcard from Jerusalem reached him a year before his passing.

H. H. Medini

Haim Hezkiya Medini (1833 - 1904) ordained at 13, orphaned young, was born in Jerusalem and served as rabbi abroad. Became chief rabbi in Hevron 1900, respected by Jews and Arabs. Founded the Magen Avot yeshiva in Beir Romano and completed his work 'Sedai Hemed'. This postcard from Jerusalem reached him a year before his passing.

Chalukah receipt.1900

This document records receipt of 5 silver Rubles, sent by R' Hirshorn of Stratinsk (Russia) to R' Shmuel Salant for the benefit of the Magen Avot yeshiva in Hevron. Dated 1900.

Dr. Wallach.Help Our Clinic

Dated 1901, this letter is an impassioned plea for help by 5 Rabbis/ Leaders of the Sephardic community: Medini, ?, Mani, Kario, and Kastil. A health clinic was established in 1893. They have the building and the equipment. What is needed are medicines and support for the patients.

Beit Hadassah

Sephardic families donated the funds to build this hospital in1893. It was named Hesed LeAvraham. In 1909-11, the Hadassah Women's Organization took it over. It served both Jews and Arabs. (Today it is a visitor's center, pictured on this postcard).

Play Ticket

This is a ticket of admission to a Hebrew play entitled "The Sale of Joseph", shown in Hevron. It is dated Wednesday 15 Adar (Shushan Purim!) and the price is one Bishlik, a Turkish coin that circulated until World War One. The ticket is handwritten and on the back reads "Don't bring children!". (The Chareidi community reportedly frowned on this presentation).

Zionist Organization Dues.'Shekel'

This is one of the classic receipts issued by the Zionist Organization for payment of membership. It is always denominated as 'One Shekel' but was paid in local currency - in this case 3 Egyptian Piastres ('Grush Mitzri') which circulated during the Mandate period. Dated 1925. Issued to R. Rahamim Hayim ben Aharon Hakohen of Hevron on 24 Iyyar 5685. That year is also punched into the paper. On the back the Credo of the organization in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English.

Rabbi Elieserow

Rabbi Shlomo Yehudah Leib Elieserov (1863-1952) was a Chabad Hasiidic leader in Hevron. He was a grandson of Menucha Rochel Schneerson. He established the Magen Avot yeshiva and Talmud Torah which first met in the historic Beit Romano building. He mailed this letter to Austria in 1901 from the Old City Jewish Quarter post office in Jerusalem.

Beit Romano & Beit Schneerson

Beit Romano, on the left of this postcard, was originally built by the Turkish Jew Chaim Yisrael Romano in the 1870s. It housed the yeshiva and was Rabbi Medini's center. Later acquired by the Lubavitch movement, today it houses a Yeshiva again. On the right is Beit Schneerson, a Hassidic center.

Mordechai Dov Ber Slonim

R' Mordechai Dov Ber Slonim (1840 - 1919) was part of the Slonim Chassidic dynasty originating in Slonim, Belarus, Poland. He arrived in Hevron in 1844. This envelope was sent from Poland to him in Hevron in 1912, addressed to 'Mr. M B Slonim'. An inscription on the back reads 'A letter to the Kollel with address'.

Mordechai Dov Ber & Levi Yitzchak

Pictured here is Mordechai Dov Ber Slonim with his great-grandson Levi Yitzchak. He is examining how well the young man recites his lessons.

Hevron.69.R Slonim letter.1923 001 (2)

R' Yaakov Yosef Slonim (1880-1937) was born in Hevron and associated with the Chassidic Chabad movement. Grandson of Mordechai Dov Ber, he was instrumental in bringing the Slabodka Yeshiva to Hevron. He was the last chief rabbi of Hevron, survivng the 1929 pogrom with the help of his Arab landlord. Writing here on his letterhead in 1924, he responds to some business question.

Founding Students of Hevron Yeshiva

Fleeing governmental draft and educational regulations, students of the Slabodka, Lithuania yeshiva named Knesses Yisroel came to Palestine in Fall 1924. These 6 yeshiva men posed in Jerusalem on Sukkot in Jerusalem. They went on to Hevron where the yeshiva was established.

From Slabodka to Hevron

A letter from R' Avraham Grodzienski, supervisor in the Yeshiva in Slabodka, to his nephew of the same name studying in the Yeshiva in Hevron. Regards to several students including Meir Hadash who joined the Yeshiva in 1926, survived the massacre, and rose to be a leader of the Yeshiva after the move to Jerusalem. .

1920 Jerusalem riots.Nebi Musa

Arab riots broke out in Jerusalem in April 1920. The occasion was the Nebi Musa festival. Both Jews and Arabs died and there was a general feeling of deterioration in security. This postcard reproduces images of numerous Jews wounded in the unrest. In the center is pictured Colonel Ronald Storrs who was the British Military Governor of Jerusalem at the time. This riot set the stage for later ones including the horrific massacre in Hevron iin 1929.

Slonim Home Ransacked

Responding to pronouncements that the Jews were taking over the Temple mount and destroying the Moslem sites there, Arab mobs took to the streets of Hevron, breaking into homes, attacking Jews. 67 were murdered, including 24 of the Yeshiva students. Many others were maimed or wounded. This postcard pictures the ransacked Slonim home, in which 22 Jews took refuge but were murdered. This was despite friendly relations that had until now existed between Jews and Arabs here.

Eliezer Dan Slonim

Eliezer Dan (1900-1929) was the son of R' Yakov Yosef. His adult pictures show him in modern clothing. He was a director of the Anglo-Palestine Bank, spoke fluent Arabic, and was the only Jewish member of the Hevron town council. His friendship with local Arabs did not save him, or those who took shelter in his home, from being slaughtered on Shabbat August 23-4, 1929. Only his 1 year old son survived.

Desecrated Torah

The Avraham Avinu synagogue was destroyed, along with precious Torah scrolls inside. Some are pictured on this postcard. The British authorities evacuated all the surviving Jewish residents.

Hevron.Kesuvim_edited

Just 3 weeks after the massacre, 'Ketuvim', a literary periodical (1926-33), memorialized victims. In a black bordered box, Yizkor - remembers - Jews of 'Achievement, Torah, and Peace', who were murdered. Among poems, editor Shlonski wrote "Diaspora,won't you inquire of the welfare of your children?", imitating Yehudah Halevy's poem recited on Tisha B'Av. Included were available photos of victims & funeral of related attacks in Tel Aviv.

Newspaper Memorial

The Yizkor box, and a memorial photo.

Memorial Photos

Photos of martyrs and the funeral.

Hevron Riot Claim Letter.a

Survivors of the massacre, and relatives of the murder victims, made claims against the Palestine Government. This is the carbon copy of a letter sent by the lawyer representing the claimants, to the consul General of the United States. The lawyer, Dr. Adalbert Buxbaum of Jerusalem, was specifically representing the American victims of 'Yeshiwath Hebron Knesseth Yisrael'.

Hevron Riot Claim Letter.b

The second page of the letter mentions death certificates and possible criminal charges, and promises to keep the recipient informed of developments in the American claims. The letter is dated 3 October 1929.

Hevron Riot Consul Response

Here the Consul General of the United States acknowledges receipt of lawyer Buxbaum's shipment of documents and promises his assistance. Dated October 18.

Hevron Riot Victims Lawyer

This is the draft of the next letter to the consul general, typed on Dr. Buxbaum's stationery. It lists 9 "American subjects who lost their life during the riots in Hebron". The top name is crossed out, no doubt because it was discovered that he was a Canadian citizen. Dated 16 October.

Hevron Riot Documents.Consul Reply

This is the reply of the American Consul, on official stationery. It is dated a month later and acknowledges receipt of the information about the 8 American citizens.

Hevron Riot Docs.Death Certificate Enclosed

Also dated 3 October, this letter accompanied the death certificate issued in Hevron before the victim was buried. This one is for Aaron David Shainberg HY"D.

Relative and Claimant Addresses

This handwritten memo lists the names of 9 victims (including Canadian Zvi Frohman) and the addresses of their families who would be officially making claims for the lost lives and property of the Yeshiva students.

List of Victims

Alphabetically, the victims are: Zev Berman, Philadel. Aaron Epstein, Chicago Zev Greenberg, Brklyn Benj. Hurwitz, New York Chaim Krasner, Bklyn Aron Shainberg, Memphis Avram Shapira, Jrslm Jacob Wexler, Chicago Also listed is Zvi Frohman from Hamilton Ontario, Canada

Damage claims.5 murdered

Here are 5 claim forms for murdered Yeshiva students. They list the murdered student, and then items of property stolen or destroyed, assigning a value to each.

Claim Form.Berman

This is the claim form for William Ze'ev Berman of Philadelphia. He died in the protection of the Slonim home.

Property Claims of Survivors

These claim forms of survivors list various personal items and their value for which compensation is claimed.

Claim for Murdered Avraham Shapira

The claims for murder victims begin with loss of life and then include personal property items. At the top is the name of the person making the claim, generally a parent. also listed is the claimants address, the place of damage, cause, and date - 24 august 1929, which was a Sabbath.

Claim Description

In the 'Remarks' section of the claim we find notes like this one: "Avraham Shapira was killed by Arabs in the days of the riots in Hevron on 24 August 1929. In accordance with the Eretz-Israeli law regarding group punishments, the father is permitted to demand a life-indemnity on behalf of the slain; therefore I hereby request from the government payment for my slain son, in the amount of 1000 Palestine Pounds." Actually the law provided a fixed indemnity of 2000 Pounds for loss of life.

R Moshe Mordechai .1930 001 (2)

R' M.M. Epstein had become Rosh Yeshiva in Slabodka in 1894. He came to Hevron and led the Yeshiva there. He survived the massacre in hiding but the loss of 24 students, including his nephew broke his spirit. Continuing in Jerusalem, he died in 1934. This receipt dated 1930 records a donation to the Yeshiva and bears his personal seal.

Hevron Yeshiva.Jerusalem

The Yeshiva moved to Jerusalem. It became known as the Hevron Yeshiva Knesset Yisrael. R' Yechezkiel Sarna (1890-1969), who had helped bring the Yeshiva from Europe, and was already active in Hevron, became Head of Yeshiva. This envelope from his stationery was mailed to America in 1949, and no doubt contained a request for donations.

Hevron Yeshiva.calendar

Sent as a fund-raiser, this calendar pictures past buildings of the Yeshiva. Shown are the buildings in Slabodka, Europe, Hevron, Palestine, and the first building in Jerusalem, the Geulah neighborhood. In 1975, the Yeshiva moved to its campus in Givat Mordechai. Reportedly, the 'Yeshiva today has about 1300 students & is one of the most prestigious & influential Lithuanian yeshivot in Israel.' Alumni include Chief rabbis, Yeshiva heads, & prominent educators and leaders around the world.

Eshel Avraham Deed

In 1931, 31 Jewish families returned to Hevron and re-established the community. This effort was short-lived and in April 1936, fearing another massacre, the British authorities evacuated the Jewish community again. This contract documents purchase of land in a south Hevron community called Eshel Avraham, named for the famous ancient tree there.

Eshel Avraham.Contract terms

Signed in Jerusalem on 10 February 1935, Saadia Gimini from Rishon LeZion bought a plot from M. Kamelhar for 6 Palestine pounds. He paid 2 pounds down and committed to 8 more payments, through the bank.

Eshel Avraham.Contract details

Further details and adjustments to the contract are listed on the 3rd page. Below are the signatures, seal, and tax stamps.

Eshel Avraham.Location

This modern map shows the location of the Eshel Avraham area (see the blue arrow).

Conditions under the Mandate

Under the Mandate, the British authorities were responsible for Government. This official reply addresses 3 concerns: a) Arabs illegal charging a fee to ascend the 7 steps toward the Tomb site b) the condition of the Jewish cemetery (which was desecrated) and c) the filthy condition of sites the Jews were forced to abandon in1936. The Chief Secretary promises to pass these concerns along to the appropriate agencies.

Arab Control

Jew-free starting 1936, Hevron - as part of the 'West Bank' - came under the control of Jordan after the 1948 war. That situation continued until 1967. This envelope was mailed from Hevron in September 1953. The postmark includes the Arab name of the city - 'elKalil' - and in English 'Hebron'. The stamps read 'Transjordan', are leftover from the Mandate period, and have blocked out the denomination 'Mil', overprinted instead with 'Fals', the Jordanian denomination.

Hevron.1967 & 1973

Israel took control of Hevron (and the whole West Bank) in the 1967 war. This Arabic envelope was stamped with Israeli stamps and cancelled with the Israel Army post cancellation which shows the city name in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, along with 'ZHL' (IDF) and the Hebrew and English date. They did it again after the 1973 war.

Hevron, Palestine

In the wake of the Oslo Accords, most of Hevron was placed under the control of the Palestine Authority. This business envelope was mailed from 'Palestine, Hebron' through the Palestine Authority postal system, using their own stamps. 14 March 1999.

Bumper sticker.Always and Forever

88 Jews paid for a hotel stay in Hevron for Passover 1968. They stayed on after and were moved to a nearby military compound. That was the beginning of a movement to re-establish a Jewish presence in the city. Today, after division into a Jewish and Arab sector, about 1000 Jews live there. This bumper sticker captures the Jewish 'settler' attitude towards this ancient and holy city.

Avraham Avinu Synagogue Rebuilt

The Avraham Avinu synagogue had been built in the 1500s. It was destroyed in the 1929 riot and massacre. Here we see what it looked like when returning Jews saw it in 1967. And the postcard shows what it looks like today, after being rebuilt in 1981.

Abrahams Oak

Bereishs/Genesis 18 records the Lord visiting Abraham recovering from his circumcision. They were at the Tamarisks or Oaks of Mamre. An ancient tree that has traditionally been regarded as the one mentioned, stands in Hevron today. It is bare and probably dead but has been preserved. It is in the area designated for Arabs and can not be visited by Israelis today. Here it is reproduced on a century-old postcard.

Jewish Settlers

Since 1968, more Israeli Jews have moved to Hevron. There are about 1000 Jews living next to about 200,000 Arabs. Opponents brand these Jews as 'Settlers', & believe they are illegal & provocative to be living in West Bank areas that were under Arab control before the wars. 'Settlers' believe there is no reason not to live in these disputed areas, especially since they are returning to property that was unquestionably Jewish before 1929, & because this was Jewish land going back to the Bible.

King David Street

King David Street (Rehov David Hamelech) runs right through the historically Jewish part of the city. When it has been open to Arabs, it has resulted in numerous bloody attacks against Jewish residents. This postcard, addressed to Prime Minister Netanyahu, shows a group of Arab rioters. It begs, in red letters, "Don't let them approach Jewish homes in Hevron". It is asking for the street to be closed to Arabs. (The Arabs call it 'Shuhada - Martyrs - Street').

Shalhevet Pass

Ten month old Shalhevet Pass was in a stroller going to visit her grandparents on King David Street when a sniper perched on a hill in the 'Abu Snene' neighborhood killed her with a shot to the head, and wounded her father in both legs. This poster shows a fuzzy picture of her. It declares "Shalhevet - the flame - will not be extinguished. We must regain control of Abu Snene immediately".

Kiryat Arba

A new Israeli suburb has developed near Hevron called Kiryat Arba. The name is taken from the Biblical name for the city. It is a modern 'settlement' with over 7,000 residents. This postcard pictures the high-rise buildings across from the older Arab homes. Friction between the 2 populations continues.

Kiryat Arba view

'Old' Hevron and New Kiryat Arba.

Hevron.bumper sticker 001 (2)

Hevron.claims.Shapira.entire