The Music of Hebron

This Shabbat, Parshat Chayei Sarah, is Shabbat Chevron. It is a very special Shabbat when we celebrate our connection to one of the holiest cities in Israel.

Every year on Shabbat Chevron, many visitors come from all over the country – and all over the world – to spend Shabbat in Hebron. The people of Hebron make sure to accommodate all the guests with delicious food and the special atmosphere of the city. The residents are known for their hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests). And it’s no wonder that in the city that Avraham Avinu purchased, his descendants continue his heritage of excelling at this mitzvah.

Chevron me’az u’l’tamid. Hebron since then and for always.

It’s Shabbat Chevron because we read in this week’s parsha about how Avraham Avinu purchased Sde Hamachpela (the Machpela field) from Efron HaChiti for 400 shekel kesef (silver coins). Back then, 400 shekels was considered a huge amount. But Avraham refused to take the land for free and insisted on paying that amount so that when days come when the nations doubt our rights to Hebron, we have the proof that the city belongs to Am Yisrael.

What is amazing is that even about 4,000 years after the deal was sealed, we can still read the contract in its original language and understand every word. And yet there are those who doubt our ownership and rights to Me’arat Hamachpela (the Cave of the Patriarchs). The absurd part? Many of those who question our ownership of Me’arat Hamachpela and rights to the city of Hebron – and demand that we give the city to our enemies – speak, read, and write the language in which the contract was made.

Hebron is Ir Ha’Avot, the city of our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, the founding fathers and mothers, and considered the second-holiest place in Judaism. Visiting there is always an uplifting experience.

When I was younger, I always enjoyed visiting Hebron. From the second you approach the city and see the Me’arah, you feel the kedusha (holiness) in the air. Then, walking the streets, you meet its residents, who are all friendly and welcoming. They greet you with warmth, with a smile, and often with something sweet to eat or drink.

I still remember how once I visited Hebron with my family and we took a tour of Tel Rumeida, which is a historic and archaeological site and also the neighborhood where Rabbi Baruch Marzel lives with his family. It was a very hot day, and after climbing all the way up the hill to the site, we were so thirsty. Then Marzel recognized us (his wife grew up in the Moshav where my parents live) and called out excitedly, in a loud voice, “Glik family! Come over to my house!” He offered us cold drinks and food. I think it was the tastiest drink I’ve ever had… You can see that Rabbi Baruch Marzel is a descendant of Avraham Avinu.

(By the way, if you happen to be in Hebron and you are really lucky, you’ll have a chance to taste Marzel’s cholent. Some say it’s one of the best cholents around... You can ask our brave soldiers who have served in Hebron – he makes sure to spoil them on a regular basis with his famous cholent, and sometimes with pizza and other good stuff.)

Walking the streets of Hebron is a unique experience. You can see and feel the history from every street corner. Almost every place you walk has a story. In addition, many artists live and work in Hebron. Walking between the galleries and seeing their art, which is inspired by the kedusha of the city, is also very special. I encourage you to purchase some art if you happen to visit Hebron, and support the heroes who live there.

While visiting Hebron, I always enjoyed when they had musical concerts. Listening to Mordechai Ben David singing about Hebron in Hebron is very exciting.

The top three best Hebron songs, in my opinion, are “Chevron” by Dedi Graucher; “Chevron Sheli” by Avraham Fried; and “Chevron” by Mordechai Ben David.

“Chevron” by Dedi Graucher is from his album V’Ohavto which was released in 1996. He also composed the song. It begins with a dramatic brass intro and opening which sounds more like chazzanut with piano in the background. Don’t worry – it gets more upbeat. I especially like the lyrics of this song, which talk about our rights in Hebron and glorify our brave soldiers who released Hebron from the enemy.

“B’Elonei Mamre zo lo haya mikreh, she’Avraham Avinu kana chelkat adama. Vehu yada she’tov asa shetavo la hashaa she’Am Yisrael shelo, yihiye bishat tzara” – It was not accidental that in Elonei Mamre, Avraham Avinu purchased a plot of land. And he knew he had done a good thing, because a time would come when Am Yisrael would be in an hour of distress.

“Chevron Ir Ha’Avot, shelanu le’dorei dorot, me’az u’l’tamid, le’netzach netzachim” – Hebron, the city of the Patriarchs, belongs to us for all generations, from then and for always, forever and ever.

Then comes my favorite verse of the song – the paragraph about our soldiers, referring to the victory in 1967: “Bemeshech hadorot chalamnu chalomot, lavo lehitpalel al kivrei Avot. Chayaleinu nilchemu, Shem Shamayim hem kidshu, u’b’ezrat Hashem, et Ha’Me’ara shichreru” – For generations we dreamed about coming to pray at the graves of the Patriarchs. Our soldiers fought and made a Kiddush Hashem; they sanctified Shem Shamayim, and with the help of Hashem they released the Cave.

“B’Chevron ha’ir yoshvim mishpachot shel tzaddikim. Mitoch emunah v’tikva, shomrim al ha’ir hakdosha. Ve’anu po nosim tefillah, le’achduta shel ha’uma. L’shana haba’a b’Chevron Ha’bnuya” – In the city of Hebron live families of righteous people. With faith and hope, they guard the holy city. And we are here praying for the unity of our nation. Next year in rebuilt Hebron!

What uplifting words!

Next is “Chevron Sheli” by Avraham Fried, from the album My Fellow Jew which was released in 2001. This song is also very upbeat and has a good rhythm.

“Ki leCalev natati et Chevron, ki ruach acheret hayta imo” – I gave Hebron to Calev because he had a different spirit.

“Chevron sheli, Chevron shel Am Yehudi. Chevron Ir HaKodesh nitna le’am kadosh, me’et HaKadosh Baruch Hu” – My Hebron, Hebron which belongs to the Jewish nation. The holy city of Hebron was given to a holy nation by G-d.

“Chevron, karov hanitzhachon, yavo Moshiach venirkod im ha’Avot” – Hebron, the victory is close. Moshiach will come and we’ll dance with the Patriarchs.

The next song is “Chevron” by Mordechai Ben David from the album Ein Od Milvado which was released in 1997. It is perhaps one of the most classic Hebron songs and the one most identified with the Jewish community of Hebron. As I mentioned above, I still remember MBD performing this song in Hebron near Me’arat Hamachpela. I went there with a friend, and during the show I got silly – I jumped onto the stage and started dancing with Mordechai Ben David. He was a little shocked, but took it easy, continued to sing, and I went back into the crowd. It was a great show. (Honestly, I’m not sure who was more shocked – MBD or my friend who came with me to the show…)

The song begins with the familiar brass intro and the drums. “Zocher chasdei Avot u’meivi go’el livnei bneihem, zocher chasdei Avot lemaan Sh’mo be’ahava” – Remember the righteousness of the Patriarchs and bring the redeemer to their descendants; remember the righteousness of the Patriarchs for the sake of His name, with love.

“Chevron Chevron me’az u’l’tamid – Chevron. Chevron Chevron shelanu, b’zchut zchut Avoteinu, kaasher nishba laAvoteinu Avraham Yitzchak v’Yaakov” – Hebron since then and for always, Hebron belongs to us. Because of the merit of our Patriarchs, as was promised to our Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

If you visit Israel and haven’t been to Hebron yet, go and visit. Take a guided tour. Learn about the history of the city and of the Yeshuv HaYehudi shel Chevron (the Jewish community of Hebron). Visit the historic sites. Learn something at Yeshivat Shavei Chevron. And most importantly, go pray in Me’arat Hamachpela.

Shabbat Shalom.