Girls’ Moving Visit to Chevron

Daphna Amar – Machon Alte

The Alter Rebbe taught that we must “live with the times,” meaning, one should live with and experience in one’s own life the Torah portion of the week.

On Shabbos, Parshas Masei, Rabbi and Mrs. Yosef Rosenfeld, directors of Machon Alte Girls School in Tzfas, along with the IsraeLearn program, organized a trip for the students of Machon Alte to the city of Chevron.

In just one day, our bus meandered through all four holy cities of Eretz Yisroel – beginning in Tzfat, passing through Teveria, then through Jerusalem to daven at Kever Rochel, before I found myself face to face with Meoras Hamachpela, the second holiest site in the world.

I gazed upon the huge Herodian structure, imagining our forefathers and foremothers roaming the very same streets where I now stood. However, what struck me the most about the place was the overwhelming presence of non-holiness; the enormous Arab city that seemed to cage in the tiny Jewish presence whose size paled in comparison.

As we toured through the few permissible places, I looked onto the endless horizon of Arab buildings, malls, and homes on streets forbidden to any Jew. Yet somehow I did not feel angry or disturbed. When I prayed Kabbalas Shabbat surrounded by dancing, joyous Yidden and Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, and Sarah, Leah, and Rebecca, I knew that Chevron was a reflection of the Jewish people, and of each of our G-dly souls.

We learned in Tanya that the more holy something is, the more the forces of klipa attack it, leech onto it, and try to destroy it. To the naked eye, it would seem that Chevron is a torn city of violence and hatred. But I saw otherwise. I saw that Chevron, the Jewish people, our G-dly souls – each of these is a treasure – a rose among the thorns. The barricades, the guns, the opposition, all served as just a testament to that truth.

We learned on Shabbos that the name “Chevron” is derived from the Hebrew word “chibur,” to connect. I will never forget the feeling of safety, unity, and direct connection to my roots, to my people, and to my own neshama that I felt in Meoras Hamachpela. It’s a feeling I will revisit in my heart any time I feel surrounded by the opposite of the truth, giving me hope for the future when we will all be reunited with the coming of Moshiach – may it be speedily in our days!