Are we disconnected islands floating down the river of time? Or do we have roots, a history and a heritage? While now – the 'present' - should be our primary focus, we shouldn’t de-contextualize a specific slice of time from the larger time-continuum. My ‘now’ should be firmly rooted in my ‘then’, with a wise eye on the future. That applies to each of us as individuals, and to us as a people.
Jews have a deep history and heritage, which is an important rudder for our present and future. When we pray three times a day, we begin by recalling our ancestors going back to the time of Abraham.While prayer isn’t a time for history lessons, we recall our ancestors because they trail-blazed the path we’ve been following through history. We recall our ancestors because they are beacons of inspiration for us, their children. We recall our ancestors because we owe something to them, our past.
That’s the way we think.
This coming Shabbos, Hebron will be visited by thousands of Jews from all over the world. Why this week? Because this week’s Torah portion relates how our matriarch Sara passed away in Hebron, and how Abraham buried her in that city.
Abraham and Sara had lived in Hebron for years, and the Scripture tells us that Abraham purchased a family burial site - the Cave of Machpela - for four hundred centenaria shekels (a sum of one million ordinary shekels!) and buried his beloved wife there.
In Hebrew, Hebron (Chevron) means connection or fellowship. Hebron is a place where we can link up with our ancestors, and thereby plug into our millennia-old heritage. It's a place where anyone - irrespective of background - can come to connect with higher meaning.
Revered by Jews for thousands of years, Hebron is also a city whose history is presently under attack by revisionists (click here for info) who have been – with UN assistance - slowly unwinding our historical connection to Israel. It's difficult to believe; but it's actually happening, as we speak.
Thousands of people are spending Shabbos in Hebron so that they can feel their connection to our history and heritage. I'll be in NJ, but I'll have Hebron on my mind. Hebron, the city of our Ancestors.
Hebron. Mine and yours.
Forever.