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5TOWNS JEWISH TIMES November 27, 2009
43
BY SAMUEL SOKOL
On August 24, 1929, the Arabs of Hevron rioted and the British mandatory authorities expelled the Jews, effectively handing over all Jewish property to the Arabs. It was in the Bet Romano building,owned by Chabad and used by the Britishas a police station, that the survivinginhabitants of Hevron came for shelterbefore being evicted from their city.Today, Bet Romano is the home of  Yeshiva Shavei Hevron and plays host toJews who have come to visit, rather thanto flee. According to Dovi Weiss, the directorof Shavei Hevron Institutions, “About300 students, 60 of whom are marriedstudents ( 
avrechim
 )learn today on adaily basis in Hevron with exemplary self-sacrifice. Another 150 students arepresently fulfilling their obligation to doarmy service.”Shavei Hevron Institutions is a majorplayer in efforts to maintain a Jewishpresence in the city. As part of its reclama-tion project, the yeshiva has recently begun planning the reconstruction of thehouse of Rav Haim Hizkiyahu Medini,located adjacent to Bet Romano. Rav Medini was the author of the Talmudicencyclopedia
Sde Hemed
and served asthe chief rabbi of Hevron.Over the Shabbat of 
parashatChayeiSarah
,as thousands of Jews from all overIsrael came to celebrate the lives of thepatriarchs, Jews from all over theDiaspora also arrived, to strengthen theconnection between the Jewish peopleand this very special city.Judy and Shimon Kalatzky of Lawrence were among those who shedthe material comforts of life in Americato spend a Shabbos in a dorm room at BetRomano in the heart of Hevron. Theyeshiva hosted many such couples, fromNew York, Chicago, Australia, andLondon, showcasing for them the
mesirut nefesh
of the Torah pioneers of Hevron. “The people were just so happy to be there,” said Mrs. Kalatzky,“Peoplewere really carried away with it.”One participant e-mailed the yeshivathanking them for such a unique experi-ence. “I wanted to thank you for the won-derful hospitality and warmth we havereceived from you and the whole yeshiva.Iwas very touched by the whole Shabbosand wanted to thank you for making ourstay so elevated.”One of the reasons for the high levelof excitement was the opening of thesection of 
 Maarat Hamachpelah
inwhich
YitzchakAvinu
is buried. The siteis usually reserved exclusively for
80 Years AfterThe Massacre,American JewsExperience TheResettlement OfHevron
Continued on Page 45
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