Chapter 25

The matter of Hebron has already been mentioned above: it had been closed and barred to the Jewish people, and no Jewish foot had trodden there for several years because of dread, fear, terror, and mortal danger. The younger members of our fellowship began to occupy themselves with opening a way in this matter as well, and more than a minyan of them traveled in an automobile operated by gentiles and bound for Hebron.

They did not merit even approaching the Cave of Machpelah. Only two men went forward, approached it, kissed the stones, and immediately returned, and they experienced great miracles. They then went to the government authorities in Hebron, but the authorities did not wish to provide them with assistance. They merely told them that on another occasion they should write several weeks in advance, stating on which day they wished to travel and how many people would come. They returned empty-handed and immediately began to work on the matter. They wrote a letter of petition to the government in Hebron, addressed to the military commander, informing him that approximately fifteen people wished to come and remain there for several hours, and asking that they be provided with a guard, as had been promised to them. Several days passed, however, and they received a reply stating that the authorities could not do this and lacked authorization for it. They would act only if the governor of Jerusalem requested this of them and the government in Jerusalem wrote to them concerning the matter.

They did not rest. Some of them went to the district officer and acting governor of Jerusalem, Mr. Kisilov, may his lamp shine, and spoke with him at length concerning the matter, urging him to take action, until he replied that they should write him a letter of petition concerning it, whereupon he would begin to endeavor on their behalf. In sum, they did this as well and composed an impassioned letter containing an earnest plea that a small number of people be permitted to travel to Hebron to supplicate at the graves of the Patriarchs on behalf of the community, since for several years we had not merited being there.

Days and weeks passed, and nothing was accomplished. They once again composed an impassioned letter with great spiritual arousal, and they also went and spoke with him time after time, at length and with fervor, beseeching him with earnest requests and supplications, etc., until he answered that they would soon receive permission. He wrote a letter to Hebron concerning the matter.

They agreed upon Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar I as the time, and stipulated that the number of people must not exceed the fixed total. He then gave them the welcome news that they should be prepared to travel to Hebron under guard on that Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar, and that they should first state how many hours they would remain altogether. They accordingly began to select the participants. First of all, they included all those who had previously traveled in vain; afterward they added several others, including me and my son, may his lamp shine. Several more people joined, among them Ephraim Gottlieb of the Karlin Chassidim, who joins us in many devotional undertakings.

Everything was kept secret, so that the matter would not become known to all the members of our fellowship or to the general public, thereby causing extensive publicity and a great commotion among the people that might, God forbid, nullify the entire undertaking.

We therefore assembled at Jaffa Gate and hired a large Arab bus at a fare of two shillings per person. We took the bus to the police station near Nachalas Shivah, known as the Traffic Office. Mr. Kisilov, the district officer and acting governor of Jerusalem, was waiting for us there. We boarded the bus, and meanwhile additional members of our fellowship arrived, including Rabbi Natan Breski, a descendant of Rabbainu, of blessed memory; Rabbi Nachman, may his lamp shine; Rabbi Eliyah Chaim, etc. They too boarded the bus. Although their addition brought us above the authorized number, we could not oppose their wishes, for they were distinguished men.

We stood there for some time, until Mr. Kisilov came out to us. He asked how long we would remain there, including the outward and return journeys, and by what hour we wished to be back. We told him approximately six or seven hours. He made a notation for himself to telephone the military office in Hebron, and seated two high-ranking English soldiers at the entrance of the bus with drawn swords.

Mr. Kisilov took leave of us with great friendship and affection. All of us together thanked him profusely and blessed him for the great kindness he was showing us. He parted from us and entered the police station, while we set out in the bus (and everyone - both the people and the policemen - stared in astonishment and said, "What is this?"). Mr. Kisilov warned the English policemen that they were to see to it that this exact number of people was brought back at the designated time to the Traffic Office, the place from which they had taken us.

Baruch Hashem, we traveled onward in life and peace, with great joy (we also bought many cigarettes, sweets, and oranges, which we distributed repeatedly to the policemen). We continued until we came near Rachel's Tomb, which was closed. There we encountered Rabbi Moshe (the aforementioned person who had traveled with us to Meron) standing outside with two women, waiting. Rabbi Moshe wished to travel with us, but the women did not wish him to leave them alone on the road; moreover, there was no room on the bus. In sum, he was compelled to alight again and remained there with them beside Rachel's Tomb.

We passed Rachel's Tomb and traveled onward. Throughout the entire way they sang, chanted, and danced on the bus. We came near Solomon's Pool, alighted there, and went to see it; one of us immersed there while the others waited for us. We then returned to the bus and continued in joy, with songs and clapping, until we reached Hebron.

The bus entered the courtyard of the Government House. We stood there, alighted for a short rest, and several government officials came out to meet us. Among them was an Englishman holding a high government position (perhaps a member of the governor's staff), who spoke fluent Hebrew. He spoke with us in friendship and goodwill and told us that we would have to wait briefly until the senior English officer arrived. We waited there for some time and sat down to rest. Meanwhile, His Excellency the governor from Jerusalem, Mr. Kitritch, came and greeted us.

Some time passed before the aforementioned English officer arrived. They began preparing themselves for the procession and told us to make ourselves ready. They arranged matters as follows: the aforementioned senior English officer, the aforementioned Englishman who spoke Hebrew, and several other English officers would walk in front of us; several high-ranking English officers would walk behind us; and along one side of us, throughout the entire route, would walk English sergeants (noncommissioned officers) and high-ranking English policemen. Along our other side, throughout the entire route, would walk English sergeants and high-ranking English policemen together with Arab officers.

They ordered us that not one of us was to move outside the formation, but that we were to walk in orderly fashion within their ranks. Thus we proceeded surrounded on every side by high-ranking officers and policemen, etc. All the gentiles who saw us were exceedingly astonished. It was truly such extraordinary honor that even high ministers do not merit its like.

We ourselves were also astonished at this, and I thought that the prophecy in Isaiah, read in the Haftaros of consolation, had been fulfilled: "Kings shall be your foster fathers," etc.