By Nosson Shulman, Licensed Tour Guide

My tourists often ask where my favorite place in Israel is to guide.   As a licensed tour guide whose heart is tied to the entire land, it is difficult to pick a favorite because I love it all!  However, if I really had to choose, there are two places that have the deepest meaning for me; Tzfat and Hebron, which we will be touring today. Although slightly more visited than some of the sites I have written about, most groups still do not come here.  Those that do, usually only visit the Cave of the Patriarchs.  Today, we will venture off the beaten track and visit Biblical Hebron, one of the world’s oldest and holiest cities!

Hebron is mentioned 87 times in the (Hebrew) Bible.  When Abraham entered Israel, he settled in the plains of Mamre, which is in Hebron.  He built an altar to G-d and spread Monotheism from this holy location (Genesis 13).

In Hebron, the Jewish nation came into existence.  At the age of 99, Abraham was commanded by G-d to circumcise himself.  Because of this action, an eternal covenant was sealed between G-d, Abraham, and his descendants (where they became “Chosen”).  G-d also promised him a son, Isaac.

Three days later Abraham, still in pain from the procedure, had three angels appear to him.  According to Jewish sources, G-d wanted Abraham to rest.  He knew that Abraham felt a strong obligation to be kind to people, and he did not want Abraham to have to toil while he recovered.   So, G-d caused the temperature that day to be extremely hot (see Genesis 18:1) so that people would not wander around and “bother“ Abraham.  However, G-d noticed that Abraham not being able to show and do kindness for others caused him more pain than his physical ailments!   So, G-d sent three “men” who unbeknownst to Abraham were actually angels.

Abraham and Sara, Isaac and Rivka (Rebecca), and Jacob and Leah lived much of their lives in Hebron, and all of them are buried there at the Cave of Machpelah.