Chapter 106

Then Hashem helped us, for many Jews arrived. The non-Jewish attendants went to collect entrance money from them, and our burden was somewhat eased. We still suffered distress at their hands, though not as before. People continued arriving one after another until the place was filled with Jews; policemen also came. From then onward we had respite from the vile people mentioned above and could do what was ours to do. I recited the Tikkun HaKlali with intent, strength, and weeping.

I also recited there all the prayers for Elul, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur, and so forth, all with intent and weeping. I fully poured out my conversation there amid tears and spiritual awakening, as Hashem sometimes helps a person to do at Rachel’s Tomb and at the tomb of Rashbi—may his merit protect us.

My wife, may she live, likewise poured out her conversation and her heart fully, with weeping and supplication, and so forth. We remained there for many hours without interruption. Although we still suffered at the hands of the non-Jewish attendants, who did not wish to allow anyone to stand there for long and repeatedly pushed the earlier visitors outside by force as new ones entered, we slipped away among them, remained in our places, and did what was ours to do with awakening and tears.

Many members of our fellowship also arrived, stood there for a time, and were compelled to leave. We remained until we had completed everything we wished to say. My wife still did not wish to depart, but our son Aharon, may his light shine, would no longer allow us to remain; he cried out to us that he was hungry and thirsty. I was therefore compelled to leave and begged my wife that we should now go, though she was still unwilling. Nevertheless, we finally took leave of the Cave of Machpelah, with weeping, petition, and supplication, after pouring out our conversation there.

We petitioned on behalf of the collective—Klal Yisrael—that no oppressor or enemy, God forbid, should have dominion to come against us, and that Hashem should also rescue the Jews in other places from the hand of the persecuting foe. We asked that Hashem grant us a good year, a favorable inscription and sealing, and healing for the children; and, beyond this, we prayed for the spiritual matters, which are the principal thing—that we merit all the sanctities attainable during these holy days, and so forth and so forth. We then kissed the wall of the Cave of Machpelah and departed of our own good will. We could still have remained there as long as we wished; it was only on account of my son, may his light shine, that we were compelled to leave.

We departed from there just as new visitors, including members of our fellowship, were arriving at the Cave of Machpelah. We went to Jacob’s Gate and stood there briefly in prayer and supplication. We then hastened swiftly through the dark alleyways mentioned above until we reached the place where the buses stood. It was filled—ben porat Yosef—with men, women, and children. A government vehicle bearing a cannon was also stationed there as a guard. It was utterly impossible to board any bus because the crowding was beyond description. Large buses were continually coming and going, so immense was the multitude then in Hebron, and we feared that we might be compelled to spend the night there.

Together with several other people, we went to the cemetery in Hebron known as Kever Achim. Our souls were deeply embittered there, and we offered many petitions, for their merit, too, was surely capable of assisting us, as it is said: “As for the holy ones who are in the earth, and the mighty ones—in them is all my desire.” We then returned. The people who had gone to the Cave of Machpelah were already coming back, for the gate had been closed and no one was permitted to remain there any longer. In truth, the day was already declining, since, thank God, we had spent most of it at the Cave of Machpelah.

We then endured anguish and hardship in attempting to board a bus, for the crowding was beyond measure. People ran out to meet every bus that arrived so that they might board it, and we, too, went and ran. At that time a miracle occurred for us: my son Aharon, may his light shine, passed among the buses and a vehicle nearly ran over him. We did not know what was happening; I saw it only from afar and could not assist him. Hashem alone helped: a Jew took him in his arms and pulled him out from among the vehicles when one was already upon him, and he had nearly been crushed, God forbid.

The day was already declining, and we had no way of returning home other than walking on foot from Hebron to Jerusalem amid the great multitude, for the buses were insufficient to transport the crowd. We were pressed severely among the people as we tried to stand in orderly lines. Those who had only just arrived shoved aside those who had been waiting, climbed over people, and entered the buses either through the door or through a window; we remained outside, and the bus departed. This happened several times. I, my wife, and my son all pressed ourselves forward and stood for a long time amid the line, the pushing, the heat, and the distress. Time after time, when a bus arrived, we nearly merited to board it; yet at the last moment people pushed past us and entered, while we were left as before.

At length I despaired of traveling in this manner, for I had no strength at all to endure it. I wished to remain until we could board without pushing. My wife, however, cried out that this was impossible under any circumstances: she had left two children suffering from diseased eyes and was compelled to tend them. It appeared that unless we pushed we would have to lodge overnight in Hebron—and how could we lodge in such a murderous city? Above all, how could we leave the children alone at home? That was nearly a danger to their lives.

In sum, we were compelled once again to force our way forward. We stood in the line immediately beside a bus, but when the time came to board, matters repeated themselves exactly as before: there were cries and shoving, I was pushed backward, and other people climbed aboard. I had already despaired and wished to go stand at the side. My wife, may she live, however, with self-sacrifice forced her way onto the bus and seated herself there near the door beside another woman.

With Hashem’s help, and with tremendous exertion, I too boarded, for she had kept a place for me. Other people assisted as my wife cried out that we were compelled to travel on account of the children. With Hashem’s help, by strength and courage, I climbed aboard. My son, may his light shine, had to be lifted in to us through a window. We traveled in great crowding and constraint, yet we thanked Hashem that we had at last merited this. We rejoiced that we had succeeded in snatching this journey to Hebron and in spending so many hours there in prayer, spiritual awakening, and weeping.

On our return journey we alighted at Rachel’s Tomb and remained there briefly in prayer and petition. From there we returned home; it was already toward evening. We rejoiced to see the children. Although they were weak and suffering pain in their eyes, their condition had at least not become much worse, God forbid, as a result of our having traveled for the entire day and left them alone under the supervision of my son, may his light shine.