10/13/2024
10 AM Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024
While drafting this week's TanteHannaWrites.com essay on why Israelis oppose the two-state solution, I came across this:
"In the seventh month, ON THE HOLIDAY OF SUCCOTH [emphasis mine] in 1517, the cruel tyrant; the wrath of the Holy One Be He, Murad Bey, deputy of the Sultan and ruler of Jerusalem, decided in his heart to take out his fury on the Jews in his city and those living in Hebron. And he said 'I will take b***y from them and take the Jews in the two cities captive so long as they have the power to see me.' And he carried out his decree. On that day, his men came to Hebron and killed many of the Jews who fought for their lives and plundered all their belongings until not one refugee or survivor was left in the Land. And a small remainder of those not felled by the sword fled to the Land of Beirut. And prior to departing, they hurried to bring along their Torah scrolls, and requested to remove their holy books. And in our numerous sins, we did not find anything. It is written and signed here by Rabbi Korpo on the sixth day of Tevet, 1519 - Yafeth ben Menashe." (http://en.hebron.org.il/history/682)
The Cave of Machpelah was purchased by Abraham almost 4,000 years ago to hold the grave of his beloved wife Sarah. Machpelah also became the burial place of himself, Isaac. Jacob, Rebecca and Leah, the patriarchs and three of the matriarchs of the Jewish people. (The fourth matriarch, Rachel, is buried just north of Bethlehem, on the road from Jerusalem.) Until the massacre of 1929 there was always--ALWAYS--a Jewish presence in this city, although occasionally just one or two families. How realistic do you think it is to give people who hate you this much an independent state on two borders?
