Jews and Arabs Clean up Hebron Together

Summary of Article for Parents: Starting around 12 years ago (2001), various incidents occurred in Hebron that led to the Cave of the Machpelah (Tomb of the Patriarchs) and the adjacent neighborhood becoming graffiti ridden and dirty. Examples: a sniper shooting of a Jewish baby, IDF closing adjacent Palestinian stores, riots, terrorist attacks, extremists writing graffiti all over the area, including "Death to the Arabs" and "Death to the Jews." Tourists have added graffiti in English. Then, starting 10 months ago, a new Arab police commander was appointed. He decided his first task would be to clean the city. He turned to the leader of the Jewish settlement in Hebron to help him. Palestinians joined in and soon the Jews and Arabs had repainted, polished, and cleaned up the city. Interesting thought from the police commander: he said that a tidy city led to a clear decline in violent incidents. "I definitely believe dirt [adds to] violent impulses [and stimulates] incitement and I hope that [by] cleaning we will produce a quiet town. " Click here for article (only in Hebrew, unfortunately).


Map: Where is Israel? Where is Hebron?

Discussion Outline for Kids:

• Does anyone remember the story in the Torah when Sarah dies and Avraham buys a cave to bury her? Tell/read the story from the Torah in Bereshit/Genesis Chapter 23, 1-20, click here. Who else is later buried here? (Abraham, ISaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah).
• We still know where this cave is and can visit it. It is in the city of Hebron. It is a very important place for Jews and for other religions. Why?
• A few years ago, the city became very dirty. How does a city become dirty? How would you clean a city? 
• Tell story from article. 
• How do you feel when your house is very clean, like for a party, and when it is really really dirty? Does it make you want to act differently? The police commander believes that it does. Explain above quote. 
• What is very special here is how two peoples (Jews and Arabs) who were usually fighting came together to clean the city. How come they were willing to?  What are ways to keep them coming together instead of starting to fight again? 

iPad: Picture of cleaning Hebron. Pictures of Hebron and the Tomb.