Abraham purchased the cave after the death of his beloved Sarah. He insisted on paying, so that generations that followed could not contest Jewish ownership.
The Jewish People have just celebrated Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and will observe the fast of Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, next Sunday evening through Monday at sunset.
Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur – when Jews pray fervently for health, happiness and prosperity for the coming year and plead for forgiveness for any sins, intentional or non-intentional – are known as the 10 Days of Repentance.
During this special time, Jews have been packing the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Hebron, visiting their forefathers and foremothers.
As noted in the Bible, Abraham purchased the “Machpelah Cave” after the death of his beloved Sarah. He insisted on paying, so that generations that followed could not contest Jewish ownership. Buried there are Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. Jacob’s second wife, Rachel, died on the road while the family was returning to the Holy Land, and Jews visit her as well at Rachel’s Tomb, outside Bethlehem..
LIVE from the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in #Hebron – just look at amount of visitors here in the pre-Yom Kippur days! pic.twitter.com/BZI5Am63UR
— Yishai Fleisher يشاي ישי פליישר 🕎 (@YishaiFleisher) September 19, 2023