Photographs of the aftermath of the 1929 Arab pogrom of Jews on Hevron have been discovered in the Library of Congress archives. In an orgy of sadistic violence on August 24, 1929, 67 of Hevron’s Jews were murdered by neighbors they had lived with in peace for many years.

Scene of house destruction after the Arab massacre of Jews in Hebron

Hevron is the city where the Jewish Patriarchs and Matriarchs are buried and where King David ruled for seven years before going to Jerusalem, so that it is one of the four holy cities in Israel for Jews.

Synagogue desecrated

There was no reason for the massacre other than the encouragement of the Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin El-Husseini, who later joined Hitler. The Arabs murdered children in front of their parents, severed limbs, raped and burned people alive.

A student of the Hebron Yeshiva, Elhana Zelig Roch, lost a hand during the attack

A student of the Hebron Yeshiva, Zvi Hirsh Heller, dies from his wounds in hospital

The massacre preceded any Jewish military acts as it took place in 1929. The Jews of Hevron predated the new Jewish pioneers returning to their homeland of Israel.

Massacre of Jewish women, children at Hebron

The British High Commissioner in the Land of Israel, Sir John Chancellor, published a statement following the massacre, saying, “I have learned with horror of the atrocious acts committed by bodies of ruthless and bloodthirsty evil-doers, of savage murders perpetrated upon defenseless members of the Jewish population regardless of age or sex, accompanied as at Hebron, by acts of unspeakable savagery, of the burning of farms and houses in town and country and of the looting and destruction of property. These crimes have brought upon their authors the execration of all civilized peoples throughout the world.”

A Jewish survivor mourning in the aftermath of the massacre in Hebron.

Cave of Machpelah Outside

Cave of Machpelah Inside

Djaouliyeh Mosque: View of the interior of the Djaouliyeh Mosque that is located alongside and just northeast of the Cave of Machpelah.  The mosque was built in the early fourteenth century.  Note on the far wall the Mihrab that points towards Mecca.

Cave of Machpelah Inside 2

Interior of Ma’arat Ha Macpela: Tomb of the Patriarchs. This interior semi-circular indentation in the wall is visible on the left side of the image which helps worshippers face east.

Cave of Machpelah Muslim Minbar

Moslem Pulpit (Minbar): View of the interior of the present “Tomb of the Patriarchs” looking at the east at the Minbar, or pulpit. This wooden minbar was constructed in Ashqelon in A.D. 1091 and moved by Saladin to Hebron ca. 1191.

Cave of Machpelah Synagogue

Synagogue: View looking west at the courtyard between the cenotaphs of Abraham and Jacob.  This area, formerly open to the sky, is now covered and is used as a synagogue. The door, just left of center, leads into the room where the cenotaphs of Jacob and Leah are located.

Cave of Machpelah Entrance to Tombs

Entrance to the caves of the sarcophagus of the patriarchs and matriarchs: The locked opening under this cupola leads down to a natural cave that is visible through the locked opening.The entrance to the corridor that leads to this cave is located on the opposite side of the room.  This complex is primarily a long corridor that leads to a natural cave under this cupola. The stonework of the complex is Herodian (37–4 BC).

Cave of Machpelah Entrance to Tombs 2

Ma’arat Ha Macpela – Entrance to Caves: This small structure was built in the twelfth century AD.  Under the rugs is an opening and stairs that lead down to the cave complex below.  This complex is said to be primarily a long corridor that leads to a natural cave under a cupola.  The stonework of the complex is Herodian (37–4 BC).

Cenotaph of Abraham

Cenotaph of Abraham: A “cenotaph” is a monument/memorial to Abraham who is buried in this case  in the cave complex below this spot.

Cenotaph of Isaac

Cenotaph of Isaac:View of the Tomb of Isaac, located in the eastern portion of the Tombs of the Patriarchs in Hebron. This portion of the structure is used as a mosque today. This tomb was construced in A.D. 1332 by Tankiz, the Mamluk viceroy of Syria.

Cenotaphs of Rebecca and Isaac

Cenotaphs of Rebecca and Isaac: View of the interior of Ma’arat Ha Macpela in Hebron. Abraham purchased the cave from Ephron the Hivite [Genesis 23]   On the left side of the image is the cenotaph of Rebecca and on the right, partially behind the column, is the cenotaph of Isaac.

Cave of Machpelah Sarah Cenotaph

View of the cenotaph of Sarah: the first of the “ancestors” to be buried in the Cave of Machpelah  (Genesis 23). Note how Arabic writing covers the whole of the fabric covering of the cenotaph.  The body is buried elsewhere in a cave below this area. The small red covered “stool” in the lower portion of the image is actually book holder on top of which an open prayer book can be placed for reading.