In modern Hebron stands the Cave of the Patriarchs (Machpelah), believed in Jewish tradition to be the burial site of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. Genesis (23:1-20) records Abraham’s purchase of the site from Ephron the Hittite. Herod built the current structure about 2,000 years ago. About 600 years later, Muslims claimed the site, calling it the Ibrahimi [Abraham] Mosque.

The Cave of the Patriarchs has always been of substantial significance to the Jewish people. Thus, for example, in a letter written by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon [known by the Hebrew acronym Rambam] in October 1165, he related to Rabbi Yaphet bar Eliyahu the Judge the story of his visit to both the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron:

… And on the first day of the week, the ninth day of the month of Marcheshvan, I left Jerusalem for Hebron to kiss the graves of my forefathers in the Cave of Machpelah. And on that very day I stood in the Cave and I prayed, praised be G-d for everything.