The Skverer Rebbe, Rabbi David Twersky, and thousands of his hasidim on Monday, Rosh Khodesh Sh’vat, came to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, and were greeted by the local Jewish residents, the Cave’s management, the IDF Hebron Brigade, the local Talmud Torah and Hakhnasat Orkhim Hebron labored to make the visit a success.
The entire Jewish part of the divided city started preparing for the visit early in the day, with Hebron police receiving reinforcements to maintain security and to monitor the flow of traffic. A special loudspeaker system was set up at the seventh step leading up to the cave, where the Rebbe usually stands to recite from the Book of Psalms. Dozens of buses with thousands of hasidim arrived on time, and when the Rebbe’s bus had arrived excitement soared.
The visiting Rebbe gave his special blessings to the military and police commanders in Hebron and to the many local residents. Before they started to recite the Psalms, the thousands of hasidim, dressed in their traditional black and white attire, sang loudly in front of the Cave, and then the Rebbe began to recite the holy verses in a trembling voice.
The local residents had conducted their own Rosh Khodesh prayers earlier, together with the students of Yeshiva Mekor Haim, headed by Rabbi Dov Singer.
According to sources in the Hebron community, the Skverer visit is part of a general increase in visits and tourism in the city and the Cave of the Patriarchs.