Mordechai the Tzaddik

Hebron-Past, Present and Forever
by David Wilder

Mordechai the Tzaddik

15 Tishrei 5756
Sunday, October 15, 1995

Friday afternoon I came home from one of the most

exhilarating experiences I've had in a long, long time.

Hebron had a very special visitor - Mordechai ben David.

Mordechai ben David, for those of you who may not know,

is THE number one Hasidic singer - responsible for such

hits as "Mashiach" "Samchenu" and his current "Mitzvah

Gedola L'hiot b'simcha Tamid" (It's a big mitvah to

always be happy).

Hebron sponsored a number of major events over the

Succot holiday, including two music festivals, featuring

Mordechai ben David and Dedi Graucher. Conducted and

directed by composer Moshe `Mona" Rosenblum, the concerts

took place in Haifa on Wednesday night, to a capacity

crowd of 3,000, and in Tel-Aviv's Yad Eliyahu Sports

Center on Thursday evening to almost to 10,000 swinging

Hebron supporters.

The evening began with short speeches by Chief Rabbi

Yisrael Meir Lowe, who stressed the importance of "Eretz

Yisrael HaShlema" (the greater Israel), Tel Aviv Mayor

Roni Milo, who said, "if Jews don't have the right to

live in Hebron, which is over 3,700 years old, what is

our right to live in Tel Aviv, which is less than 100

years old?!", Noam Arnon, spokesman of the Jewish

Community of Hebron, MK Zevulun Hammer, Party leader of

the National Religious Party, and Likud MK Bibi

Netanyahu, who will hopefully be elected the next Prime

Minister of Israel. Netanyahu emphasized the major

problem plaguing Israel today, which in his words, is

EDUCATION. "Today's youth is ignorant of true Jewish

values, emanating from the Bible, and other Jewish

literature. When the Likud returns to lead the country,

we will make education our number one priority, and

educate our youth with the values evident in the children

living in Hebron."

The first of the two major features of the evening

was Dedi Graucher, who performed wonderfully for an hour.

Before his performance the packed audience viewed the new

Hebron sound and light show, Hebron, City of the

Patriarchs. This 15 minute feature radiates the lights

of Hebron, Past, Present and Future.

At 10:20PM Mordechai ben David took center stage and

gave the audience a performance never to be forgotten.

He sang one song with Dedi Graucher and dueted with "boy

wonder" Yehuda Ma'atuf from Kfar Habad for two numbers.

Singing until almost 11:45PM, ben David kept the crowd

clapping, swinging and on its feet until the very end.

On Friday morning Mordechai visited Hebron. Leaving

Jerusalem at 7:30 in the morning and accompanied by two

full buses, he arrived at Ma'arat HaMachpela for morning

services. The entire entourage received an in-depth

explanation of the Ma'ara and its history from Noam

Arnon, had breakfast in the huge Succah outside the

Ma'ara and split into two groups to tour Hebron. I had

the privilege to spend the next few hours with Mordechai

and his friends. We visited the Avraham Avinu

neighborhood and the Avraham Avinu Synagogue and then

traveled up to Tel-Rumeida, home of Hebron's most

infamous citizen, Baruch Marzel, who is still under house

arrest (for over a year)! Mordechai dedicated one of his

songs during the concert to Marzel and when he saw him in

Hebron hugged him and danced with him. Baruch gave the

guests a guided tour of the area, including Kever Rut and

Ishi, the tombs of Ruth and Jesse (King David's father).

Mordechai was photographed with almost all the soldiers

in the area, at his request. He entered a small base and

wished all present a happy New Year and a happy Festival.

After visiting Beit Hadassah, Mordechai sang and

danced his way up to the roof of Beit Shneerson, to the

Succah of the Heikan family. There he sang and danced

with Hebron's children for over 20 minutes, bringing

smiles and laughter to the faces of all. It was a truly

joyous event.

When the buses left back to Jerusalem at 2:00PM,

Mordechai ben David left a community of hand-clapping,

singing residents, who had the opportunity to enjoy two

of the star-singers appearances - one on stage and one in

person in Hebron. It was a day to remember.