In celebration of half a century since the liberation of Hebron in the Six Day War, the Jewish community of Hebron will welcome Israeli leaders and the public to a festival on Monday, the second day of Chol Hamoed Pesach.

The cultural event, which will feature musical performances by Chaim Yisrael, Udi Davidi, Uzziah Zadok, Itzik Dadya, and Binny Landau, will also include speeches by Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Deputy Minister of Defense Eli Ben Dahan, Deputy Minister of Regional Cooperation Ayoub Kara, and Knesset Members Oren Hazan, Shuli Moalem-Refaeli, Nurit Koren, Miki Zohar, Nava Boker, Bezalel Smotrich, Avraham Neguise and Nissan Slomiansky. Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau and Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita will also address the crowd, which is expected to number in the tens of thousands.

The festival will take place in the plaza outside the Machpelah.

Today, the Machpelah is divided for use between Muslims and Jews. However, the Yitzchak Hall, which is in Muslim-only use except for 10 days a year, will be open to all Jewish visitors on the second and third days of chol hamoed.

Guests will also be able to participate in special tours to sites such as Kasbah – the Jewish Quarter – which was inhabited prior to the riots in 1929 which led to the murders of 67 Jews and the ousting of the Jewish community by the British. Also, the tomb of the first judge of Israel, Otniel Ben Knaz, new excavations at the Tomb of Jesse and biblical heroine Ruth, as well as visits to the multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art experiential museum at Beit Hadassah will be open.

Kosher-for-Pesach food vendors and craftsmen will also participate.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)