Visiting the Holy Land? Check Hebron out!

If you are visiting the Middle East, don't miss out on one of its hidden gems: Hebron.  Hebron is one of the most ancient cities on earth; it has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years.  Many biblical stories took place in Hebron.  It is now the resting site of prominent biblical characters such as:

•      Abraham & Sarah
•      Isaac & Rivka
•      Jacob & Leah

and also Ruth and Yishai, among others! 

As a result, the city is interesting for members of all monotheist faiths: Jews, Christians and Muslims. 

Today's Hebron population amounts to around 200,000.  Among them, close to 10,000 Jews and the remaining Arabs (Muslims for the overwhelming majority).  Hebron residents tend to be conservative and hospitable, friendly to tourists.

The Tomb of Patriarchs & Matriarchs in Old Hebron

For the purpose of this blog, I've divided the Hebron area into 3 different parts:

1.  Old Hebron: the heart of the city.  In this historic part of town, you will find the resting place of Abraham and Sarah! 

2.  New Hebron: a vibrant, bustling city with character and a strong Arabic flavor.

3.  Modern Hebron: the modern town of Kiryat Arba.  Adjacent to Hebron itself, it is home to a diverse community of 8000 Jews.

I'll go into more details about each of these 3 parts later on.  Based on my own experiences there, I'll use this blog to provide tips for the individual foreign visitors, including women travelling alone. 

Hebron is just 30 kilometers south of Jerusalem.  The trip between the two cities is reasonably fast and easy.  There are several options: all of them are affordable and safe (providing you use common sense and follow a few basic, easy-to-understand rules). 

I hope you'll enjoy this blog.  Hopefully, it will encourage you to go visit this unique city.

Yalla!  Kadima!  Let's go!

Next post (coming soon...): how to get to Hebron...