Page 28 - HaMizrachi #14 2019 Chayei Sarah USA

Rabbi Daniel Rosenstein

Continuing

on the path

י ִ ת ֵ מ־ת ֶ א ה ָ ר ְּ ב ְ ק ֶ א ְ ו יִּנ ֶּ מ ִ מ ח ַ ק ...ןֹור ְ פ ֶ ע־ל ֶ א ר ֵּ ב ַ דְי ַ ו Avraham had the foresight to know integral to the Jewish people. Whether
ה ָּ מ ָֽ ׁש, “And Avraham said to Ephron… that one day there would be BDS, BTS you join us for one of our weekly
Let me pay the price of the land; (Breaking the Silence), EU anarchists, tours or attend Shabbat Chayei Sarah,
accept it from me, that I may bury my New Israel Fund and others chal- Hebron will be a highlight of your
dead there” (Bereishit 23:13). lenging our right to live where our next trip to Israel.
forefathers and mothers lived and are
hat was Avraham Avinu’s buried. The universal language of all On Shabbat Chayei Sarah, Hebron
strategy with Ephron the nations is money – a financial trans- welcomes tens of thousands of
WHittite? action. By purchasing it, Avraham Jews. Last year, some 50,000 people
Let’s attempt to analyze what each ensured our eternal connection to the ascended the Judean Hills and joined
us in Hebron for Shabbat. Some guests
side may have been thinking. Ephron’s Land and to our Avot and Imahot. from the USA and overseas come for
perspective could have been: “Look at As a nation, we continue on the path a week or a weekend. This year, one
this Jew Avraham. I know he wants that Abraham forged for us. guest even plans to land in Israel on
this field for his wife Sarah so I will Friday morning, spend Shabbat with
price gouge him for 400 silver shekels.” us and return to the USA on Motzei
On the other hand, perhaps Avraham Shabbat!
realized that he was getting the keys to The Hebron Fund VIP program offers
eternity for only 400 silver shekels. A as many as five delicious catered meals
metziah! What a great deal! (don’t bring any food!) with special
guests such as the Chief Rabbi, Mem-
A bride and groom on their wedding
day have similar sentiments – each bers of Knesset as well as leaders and
one of them feels as though “I got the residents of the Jewish Community of
better end of the deal! I can’t believe I Hebron.
got such an amazing person to share Guests stay in apartments and suites.
the rest of my life with!” It would be a The Hebron Fund is the official While not quite the Four Seasons in
bracha if they feel like this every day sponsor of the Jewish Community of New York, it might as well be consid-
and keep sharing and giving to their Hebron. We support Hebron’s resi- ering the options! (Many people pitch
spouse. dents who enable access to ancient tents or remove the car battery to
Let us not forget that Ephron offered Hebron and Ma’arat HaMachpela. sleep in their car.) We offer a 24-hour
tea and coffee room, exciting pro-
the Cave for free and Avraham Our mission also includes beautifi- gramming, amazing tours and round-
turned him down! Why would Avra- cation and upkeep of Hebron’s Holy trip coach transportation from Jerusa-
ham choose to pay full price instead? Sites; public events and Tourism; Israel lem. And next year will be even better!
Avraham knew that this was not only advocacy and diplomacy; educational
the entrance to Gan Eden but also and recreational projects; and care for Visit hebronfund.org and join us in
important real estate – physical and the IDF Soldiers who protect our city. Hebron on your next visit to Israel.
spiritual – for the Jewish people. Had Last year, Hebron had over 700,000 Book your tour at hebronfund.org/
he accepted this “gift,” the nations of visitors – making it one of the “Top tour or sign up for next year’s Chayei
the world may have turned around 10 Most Visited Sites in Israel!” By Sarah as we’re already planning
one day declaring that the “gift” was visiting and expressing how import- ahead… Save the date: November
really ‘just a loan’ or that Ephron later ant Hebron is to you and your family, 13-14, 2020!
changed his mind and didn’t intend to you send a strong message to a hesi- Rabbi Daniel Rosenstein is Executive
give Avraham the land at all. tant Israeli government that Hebron is Director of the Hebron Fund

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