Shabbat CHAYE SARAH in HEBRON

B"H

This week's Parasha is called "CHAYE SARAH". Avraham and Yitzchak are coming back from the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit) where Avraham was commanded to sacrifice his son Yitzchak. When they came home that got the message that Sarah had passed away. 

According to Targum Yehonatan and the Or HaChaim, Sarah had died because she was told that Avraham had gone away in order to sacrifice their son. She really thought that her beloved Yitzchak would die and this broke her heart. 

After our great foremother had passed away, Avraham went to purchase a burial site for her. Among other things, this Parasha is teaching us to respect the death and plan for the future. Just like Avraham did when he sent out Eliezer in order to find a wife for Yitzchak. 

Due to Parashat CHAYE SARAH, thousands of Jews are going to gather at the Ma’arat HaMachpelah in Hebron this Shabbat. The Machpelah used to be a cave but I think it was Herod (Hordos) building the huge complex on top of the cave.

When you go visiting the Machpelah today, you are not standing in front of the original graves but in front of tombstones places at different spots in order to show where the forefathers and their wives are buried. The real graves are deep down below. 

Further details HERE !

When I went to the Machpelah for the first time, I was shocked seeing all kinds of Arab clothes covering the tombstones (the tombstones which are not real). How can it be that clothes with quotations from the Koran cover the tombstones of Sarah, Ya'akov, Rivka (Rebecca), Yitzchak and Leah ? Avraham, at least, was also the father of Ishmael but what have all the other Jews to do with Islam and Arabs ? Furthermore, there are historical claims that today's Arabs are not the true descendants of Ishmael anymore. 

Not to forget mentioning:

Also Adam and Eve are buried in the Machpelah. 

Note that the Jewish population of Hebron only lives in 1/3 of the town making the Jewish Quarter extremely small. 3/4 belong to the Palestinians who still threaten the Jewish populations by placing hidden snipers.