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The Avraham Avinu Synagogue

The Avraham Avinu Synagogue

The Avraham Avinu Synagogue

The Avraham Avinu Synagogue was built in the 16th century by a group of Jews who were expelled from Spain and came to Hevron under the leadership of Rav Malchiel Eshkenazi. The synagogue was situated in the center of the Avraham Avinu neighborhood in Hevron.

According to Jewish literature (In the book, Emek HaMelech), there was a year in which, there were only nine Jews residing in Hevron.  They needed a tenth Jew in order to complete a minyan for prayer on Yom Kippur.  An anonymous person suddenly appeared on Yom Kippur allowing for the recitation of the Kol Nidrei and other prayers that require a minyan.  This person mysteriously disappeared after the end of the holiday.  The rabbi of the community had a dream in which the mysterious visitor revealed his identity to him:  Avraham Avinu.

As the result of this story, the synagogue in Hevron was named after Avraham Avinu. 

The structure was destroyed by Arabs during the 1929 Uprising in Hevron.  The Jordanians erected public bathrooms on the site, as well as, a center for garbage collection and an animal pen.  The king of Jordan also saw to it that the rest of the Jewish Quarter was left in ruins.

After the Jewish settlement in Hevron was renewed, the Avraham Avinu Synagogue was uncovered by Professor BenZion Tavger.  He was active in demanding that both the synagogue and the ancient cemetery in Hevron, which was desecrated by Arabs after the uprising of 1929, be restored.

The synagogue was restored on the basis of pictures, as well as the memories held by survivors of the uprisings.  Today, it is once again active and used for prayers.

   Sefrei Torah, taken to Jerusalem in the aftermath of the massacre of 1929, were returned to their rightful place in the Avraham Avinu Synagogue.