Legends

A very rich Jewish man, Isaac Demayu, came to see the tombs of the righteous people in Israel. In his travels he also wanted to see the inside of the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron.

Hebron’s Jewish Community looked forward from year to year to the mitzvah of building a Succa for Succot. One year there a war raged in the hills south of Hebron, between nearby Arab tribes. Fear reigned in the area and the Jews of Hebron could not even venture out of the city to seek thatch for the Succas. The Rabbi decreed that no one should risk his life in search of thatch. As Succot was nearing, there was still no thatch in sight nor an opportunity presenting itself to get any.

The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire made a journey from his seat of government in far off Turkey to places of importance in his domains. He made his way to the Cave of the Machpelah in Hebron. Adorned in the traditional ruling garb, the Sultan's gold sword, studded with diamonds and precious stones hung at his side. The Sultan wondered from room to room, finally entering the huge hall named after the Patriarch Yitzhak.

During the time when the Crusaders conquered the holyland, they built a church a top the Cave of Machpelah complete with a church bell tower. Bells would ring. Hebron was full of Christians. Jews and Moslems were constantly harassed.