(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

During Chol Hamoed Pesach, all of the Ma’aras HaMachpelah is open to Jews exclusively, permitting mispallalim to visit Ulam Yitzchak, which is off limits most of the year.

During the first days of Chol Hamoed Pesach, tens of thousands of visitors arrived in the holy city from around Israel and the world to be mispallel and get a close up look at the Jewish community today. It is reported over 40,000 have visited the city, of which 30,000 have also visited the Machpelah, which represents a significant rise from last year at the same time, when that number was only 18,000 according to police.

Security forces will remain out in force for the remainder of Yomtov.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)