DavidWilder.Org

Abraham and Sarah are QuiveringSunday Mar 04, 2012 When Ma’arat HaMachpela, the tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, was reopened, after having been closed for almost a year, in 1994, the huge, 2,000 year old structure was divided. About 75% of the building was opened to anyone not Jewish; the other 25% was opened to anyone not Moslem. Excepting 20 […]

‘King David Street’ or ‘Street of the Martyrs’ – Shuhada?Sunday Feb 26, 2012 A couple of years ago, prior to the first ‘Open Shuhada Street Day’ protests and demonstrations, I was asked to respond to a number of questions posed concerning Israel’s presence in Hebron (and throughout Judea and Samaria) as well as the issue of “Shuhada Street,” a kilometer […]

Where were $3.4 Billion American Tax Dollars spent?January 31, 2012 Where are American Tax Dollars being spent? According to ForeignPolicy   , in an article titled: Hard times in Hebron    the United States: has spent $3.4 billion in development funds in the Palestinian territories of West Bank and Gaza So, it appears that this poor, oppressed, underdeveloped Arab city has doubled the number of building permits […]

A few days ago, January 20, was the fifteenth anniversary of the implementation of the Hebron Accords, which divided our holy city into two unequal zones. Jews today have access to 3% of Hebron, while Arabs access some 97% of the city. Yesterday we posted an interesting, important and timely article by Noam Arnon (in Hebrew) marking this ill-fated act, which led […]

Last night a very special event took place at the Hurva synagogue, in the “Old City” of Jerusalem. Hundreds gathered to honor Hebron-Kiryat Arba’s chief rabbi, Rav Dov Lior. Rav Lior is, most simply put, a Torah giant, a genius whose Torah scholarship is second to none. Together with his brothers, he escaped the Nazi holocaust and has lived in […]

Yesterday my wife and I spent Shabbat in Jerusalem with some friends. They made Aliyah a year and a half ago and invited us to spend the day with them in the “Holy City.”  After arriving at their apartment in the Kiryat Shmuel neighborhood of Jerusalem, I asked what time they leave the house to pray on Saturday morning.  I […]

It’s happened to me three times in the past few weeks. Once, while giving a tour, in the middle of a suspense story, the next time at a Brit, a baby’s circumcision, and two days ago, during a candle-lighting ceremony; all at Ma’arat HaMachpela, the tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. ***********************************************************More Hanukkah in Hebron here – Videos and photos*********************************************************** On […]

The Hebron ChroniclesDecember 20, 2011 See first night Hanukkah candle-lighting at Ma’arat HaMachpela in Hebron      Candle-lighting at Ma’arat HaMachpela in Hebron   http://goo.gl/ePXwt     Tonight the Festival of Lights will be upon us. Hanukkah is an unusually joyous holiday, allowing us eight full days of extra added illumination. Hanukkah’s celebration centers around one word, that being miracle. […]

Facts are the archenemy of liesDec. 11, 2011 Friday morning a van pulled up outside my Beit Hadassah home in Hebron, and out stepped Alan Clemmons, State Representative from South Carolina. First I shook his hand and then told him, ‘you deserve a hug,’ and proceeded to hug him.   Alan Clemmons is one of a growing number of young […]

November 17, 2011 Thursday 20 Heshvan 5772 20:37 IST   A free people in our land – HebronBy DAVID WILDER16/11/2011 Several years ago, on the anniversary of the liberation of Hebron in 1967, I was interviewed by a journalist who queried me about various problems facing Hebron’s Jewish community. His concluding question/statement was, “Well, I guess you’re not celebrating today?” […]