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David Wilder graphically describes the historical, physical evidence of Hebron being biblical Chevron, site by site. Visits to the caves, Herod (or an earlier Hasmonean king) constructing a building on the site, and Canaanite graves, identify the Cave of the Patriarchs.
While professionally David is the Spokesperson of the Jewish Community of Chevron, we asked him to share what he personally feels living in Chevron today. He describes the awe, the honor, and the responsibility of living in the footsteps of the Patriarchs.
On this upcoming Chaye Sarah Sabbath, where over 20,000 visitors are expected, Sabbath housing is arranged at schools, one for men and one for women, with prayers, classes and tours all day long. To visit Chevron, see www.hebron.com, register or call 02 996-5333, ext. 0. Mr Wilder invites all of you to become honorary Chevron Citizens! This is arranged through the website - http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?id=564 This interview begins in the first segment and continues into the second.

Yeshu Dray is a former interior designer who turned his skill into reconstructing ancient technologies. His theories are put into practice through models and full on-site reconstructions using original materials, often revising what is accepted in the academic world. Another pioneering field of his activity is employing a gamut of technologies to take apart a site and put it back together again. A crane to lift stones and put them back, running on railroad tracks, 3D laser scanning, inserting microchips to track the fallen and rebuilt locations of each stone, has restored a 1600 year old synagogue. For the first time in a century of synagogue excavation, a complete Ark for the Torah scrolls, with steps and framework, was discovered - and rebuilt! This Southern Golan site, near Nataf, is known as Um-el Kanatir, or Keshatot Rechava'am, named for Rechava'am Ze'evi, the murdered fighter and government minister. Family visits are welcome during the summer excavation season. An earlier synagogue was discovered underneath it last year, and is dated perhaps 300 years earlier. Finds so far include thousands of coins, six menorahs-candelabras carved in stone, and one inscription, probably of the donor.
Yeshu is very proud of his work restoring the water systems at Nachal Taninim, that fed Caesaria in Roman times. There are two systems, one massive, with many questions still puzzling scholars. Plants and water life were replenished at the site. Entrance is next to Kibbutz Maagen Michael, just off Highway 4. Other Dray projects include restored technologies at Neot Kedumim Park and many other sites throughout the country. Yeshu worked with Foundation Stone on our recent exploration of an anomaly in the field next to Tel Yavne, together with scholars from Hartford and Haifa Universities; discussed on earlier shows - www.telyavne.com.
Together with Yeshu we bemoaned the fact that projects of restoring historical sites, like Keshatot Rechava'am generally get done by someone meshuge, crazy about the place, reach out to donors, and then sometimes the government helps. These projects should be national priorities, as they affect the identity of the citizenry and the public face of the country internally and externally. Foundation Stone faces this challenge at all of its sites. Yeshu's Restoration of Ancient Technology site has great images and educational material – www.yeshuat.com.
In the third section Mark Lawner describes how he rose to the occasion to help the Gush Katif expellees to resettle and to function in a healthy manner in their temporary and permanent communities. The Gush Katif Network, aided through the Central Fund of Israel, is currently working very hard on addressing the needs of youth and children for healthy learning environments and for the tremendous need for trauma counseling. Their homes no longer exist and 5 years out they are not in real homes. They have said ”We have no past, we have no present, and we have no future!” Only now some of the teenagers are ready to accept that they need counseling.
Actually rebuilding permanent homes for the communities is an undertaking on a governmental and national level- which the individuals of the Gush Katif Network have set themselves on as a mission to give hope. The former community of Shirat HaYam is rebuilding their community as “Maskiot”, south of Bet Shean, in the Jordan Valley. Units are going up, infrastructure is being laid, and in 18-24 months there will be 100 families in the town. This included the original residents, and secular and religious families from all the neighboring communities. The difference between the government help offered and the actual budget is 2.5 million dollars.
A daring project, education and youth based, is a Land of Israel Park including gardens representing all the microclimates of Israel, the special species of Israel hiking and biking paths, and more. A wide range of children's facilities will be installed for both the communities and visitors. Maskiot stands to become a central visiting place of the country.
You can help build an apartment for a young couple with children, which costs USD$35,000, by contributing 100 and participating in a virtual raffle. One of the 350 donors will win the merit of dedicating the house. Three raffles are currently in progress. See www.maskiot.co.il, or write to Mark at mlawner@netvision.net.il.
The last section, one of our most engaging ever, is also in honor of this week's Torah reading related to Chevron. David Willner tells the story of his personal connection to Chevron in the wake of the murderous attack in 1980. He consulted with different rabbis about an inspired reaction to help. The power and commitment of the fledgling community praying together left a permanent imprint.
A fascinating friendship is creating an unfolding documentary. Daniel Mendoza, a London actor, is being filmed by his friend David Goodwin, an experienced filmmaker, on a three week journey of Torah, personalities and places in Israel. Today the “Mendoza Meets God” dynamic duo left their Aish HaTorah program to visit Chevron with Barnea in the wee hours of the morning. Meeting a range of local Jewish and Arab personalities, like Noam Arnon and a 3rd generation potter, and exploring the Cave of the Patriarchs and the Avraham Avinu Synagogue, Daniel shares his fresh impressions.
To hear earlier shows and for more information on Foundation Stone projects and tours, see www.foundationstone.org.