HISTORIC RARITY: For the First Time in 21 Years, Construction of a New Jewish Neighborhood in Hebron has Begun!

31 Housing Units to be built in the new “Nahalat Chabad” Neighborhood

By Nosson Shulman: Licensed Tour Guide of VIP Israel Tours & Authentic Virtual Tours (click here to check out his free trailer videos)

It has taken almost 21 years, but for the first time in decades a new Jewish neighborhood is being built. Construction has begun on 31 housing units, a public park, two kindergartens and a dormitory for the nearby Yeshiva (Academy of advanced Torah and Talmudic Studies). After completion, the new residents will join the 850 Jews who currently call Hebron home.

While 31 units may not seem like a lot, in actuality this a very important step in the development of the second holiest city in all of Judaism, whose growth throughout history has always come with a struggle. The Jewish connection to the land began roughly 4000 years ago when Abraham (the world’s first Jew) bought the Cave and Field of Machpelah (Cave of the Patriarchs) from Ephron as recorded in Genesis (for more on that special site, click here). Since then, the city has had a special place in the Jewish heart, mostly having had a Jewish community without interruption (the 19-year Jordanian occupation of the city between 1948-67, when Jews were forbidden from living there and had their property illegally seized, is a notable exception).

When Israel liberated Hebron in 1967, although the Jews still owned deeds to much of the land, the Israeli government had a policy of allowing the Arabs to remain in the homes they had taken over. Jews were not allowed to resettle on their own property. In 1968, Rabbi Moshe Levinger rented the Park Hotel for Passover and declared that he and his guests were re-establishing the ancient community and not leaving (the owner of the hotel, who had fallen on hard times, was delighted as he was given large, cash-filled envelopes). The government was not happy with this and wanted them to leave. Eventually, a compromise was reached where the guests would leave the hotel and be given land adjacent to Hebron to build the new town of Kiryat Arba (which today is a flourishing town of 8000 and growing).

By the late 1970s Rabbi Levinger held a meeting with community members, and they agreed that it was important for Jews to live in the city of Hebron itself near the holy sites, not just in the “Suburb” of Kiryat Arba. In 1979, they resettled the Beit Hadassah Community, which they still had the deed to. Only women and children came (they volunteered to do it this way, knowing that the IDF would be less likely to evict them than their husbands. Indeed, the army commander told the new residents that if they were to leave the building even for a minute, they would not be allowed to re-enter). For one year they lived without running water and electricity, while their husbands brought them food through the window. In May 1980 the men came to wish their wives and kids a “Shabbat Shalom”, and in an act of terror were gunned down, with 6 losing their lives. Because of this horrific incident, then Prime Minister Menachem Began allowed the Jews to return here permanently and even to build new buildings in the complex. Today, approximately 35 Jewish families live in the complex which houses a park, basketball court, synagogue, and an excellent Museum/Visitor’s Center.

In the 1980s the Jewish community led efforts to restore the Avraham Aveinu neighborhood, which had been the main center of Jewish life in Hebron since the 1500s. The local Arabs had destroyed most of the buildings during riots in the 1930s. When Jordan took over, they intentionally converted the synagogue into a public latrine (the only one which existed in Hebron). Part of the Synagogue was also converted to a sheep pen. With great efforts, the debris and ruins were cleared away and new homes were built. The Synagogue, built in 1540, was restored and now holds services daily. Today, this is the largest Jewish neighborhood in all of Hebron.

In 1984, a Jewish community was established on Tel Rumeida (this land has been owned by Jews since 1807 when it was purchased from Arabs). The government allowed Jews to live in caravans but not to build an actual building. Although conditions were tough the community flourished until 1998, when a terrorist entered the community and murdered a leading Rabbi. Because of this horrible incident, the government gave permission to build. During construction, the archeology of Biblical Hebron was discovered. So as not to destroy the ruins, the building (completed in 2005) was built on concrete pillars to keep the ruins underneath them visible to visitors. Today, between 15 and 20 families live there.

Additionally in the last 15 years, 4 individual (isolated) buildings (each hosting several apartments) were purchased from Arabs. Today, several brave Jewish families live in them.

The new neighborhood being built was bought by Jews affiliated with Chabad (Lubavitch Chasidim) in 1909, and they still have the original deed in Arabic to prove it. Since it was the Chabad community who originally bought the land, this new community will fittingly be called “Nahalat Chabad” which literally translated means “The Inheritance of Chabad”.

Additionally in the last 15 years, 4 individual (isolated) buildings (each hosting several apartments) were purchased from Arabs. Today, several brave Jewish families live in them.

The new neighborhood being built was bought by Jews affiliated with Chabad (Lubavitch Chasidim) in 1909, and they still have the original deed in Arabic to prove it. Since it was the Chabad community who originally bought the land, this new community will fittingly be called “Nahalat Chabad” which literally translated means “The Inheritance of Chabad”.

Today, there are approximately 850 Jews living in Hebron, surrounded by 120,000-250,000 Arabs (the reason for this huge range in population is because the Palestinian Authority often inflates their numbers for political and financial reasons (the more people they report, the more foreign aid they receive). With this soon-to-be built neighborhood, the Jewish population is expected to exceed 1000.

Nosson Shulman is a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here. To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.

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