(IsraelNN.com) Tens of thousands of Jews flocked to Hevron, Israel’s second holiest city, this weekend for one of the year’s largest gatherings: the reading of the weekly Torah portion that recounts the purchase of Hevron by the Biblical Patriarch Abraham.

A pre-Sabbath prayer service inside the Cave of the Patriarchs
Photo: Pinchas Orbach

In Genesis, chapter 23, the Bible records Abraham's purchase of a large tract of land with a cave in which to bury his wife Sarah. The historical purchase occured in the year 2085 on the Jewish calendar (1676 BCE).

Twenty thousand Jews were present in Hevron according to David Wilder, the Hevron Jewish community's official spokesperson. The tomb of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and matriarchs Sarah, Rivkah and Leah are located in Hevron in the city's ancient Cave of the Patriarchs, where the main Torah reading was held.

With filled dining halls, tables spilled out into Hevron's streets to accommodate the 20,000 visitors
Photo: Pinchas Orbach

One-star accomodations didn't stop myriads from coming to Hevron
Photo: Pinchas Orbach

Hevron was liberated by the Israeli Defense Force during the 1967 Six-Day War.

“When I saw all those Jews standing together praying in unity, it gave me such a sense of peace and belonging,” commented Chaya, one of the thousands of participants at the special event held each year to celebrate the reading of the week's Torah portion, "Chayei Sarah" – translated as "the Life of Sarah."

Visitors to the holy city were treated to tours around ancient Hevron in numerous languages, including English tours led by local residents Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum and David Wilder. Chief Rabbi of Tzfat Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu was amongst the guests and delivered lectures.

 “It was a surreal experience,” said Eitan, one of the thousands of participants.  “Reading the ‘Chayei Sarah’ Torah portion on the very land that Abraham our forefather bought in which to bury the body of his wife Sarah was so empowering.”

Jewish families literally slept in Hevron's streets to take part in the weekend
Photo: Pinchas Orbach

For many years, Jews were blocked by the Arabs from entering the Cave of the Patriarchs after the Ottoman Turks lost control of the territory to the British. Despite the site's Jewish origin and the fact that even today, Jews allow people of all faiths to pray at the tomb in peace, the Arab claim that Jews should not be granted entrance because the gravesite is a mosque, held sway after the British gained control over the area.

Getting ready for Friday evening
Photo: www.hebron.com

The multitude of guests slept in sleeping bags and on bedrolls scattered on whatever floor space was available. Visitors were welcomed into the homes of Hevron residents, on the floors of classrooms, in school gymnasiums, and even in tents on grassy areas.

Photo: www.hebron.com

Noelle, an American student spending the year in Israel, recalled “Even though the floors were hard and crowded, it was all part of the experience of being together with thousands of Jews at once. The achdut [brotherhood] was incredible.”

With the Cave of the Patriarchs filled
Photo: www.hebron.com

Gavriela, another student visitor, summed up the way her visit to Hevron affected her Zionism. “Entering the rooms in which my patriarchs are buried proves to me that this land, [the land of Israel], truly belongs to the Jewish people.”