Interview:
Miriam Levinger
(Editor's note: this interview, which was conducted on September 11, 1996, was distributed by the Shomron News Service. Rabbi and Mrs. Levinger, who came to Hebron 28 years ago, are considered the father and mother of the Hebron Jewish community. )
What brought you to Hevron in 1968?
Levinger: The question is: Who brought me to Hebron? My husband. When we saw the results of the Six Day War, we realized the miracle of all of Biblical Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) returned to the Jews. My husband said from the beginning that we must immediately return to Biblical Israel. First my husband was active with people who founded Kfar Etzion and then afterwards, with others, old-time ideologists, Natan Alterman and Yitzhak Tabenkin. They decided that we would come to Hebron. Hebron is second to Jerusalem -- it's one of the four holy cities, Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed and Tiberias, and the place of the Cave of the Patriarchs, and no Jews were there. He came to me and told me of the idea and gave me 24 hours to think about it. I thought about it -- at that time my husband was a rabbi at Moshav Nehalim. I remember feeling,
I always felt very privileged to be a part of the struggle for Hebron.
when I came to Israel in 1956, that I had come after all the history had been made. Suddenly I realized that this was an awakening of a new dawn of history-the whole return to Biblical Eretz Yisrael. So I said to my husband, "Fine."
When you look back, how do you reflect on what has happened in the last 28 years?
Levinger: I would say I got a practical lesson on the facts of history. When you think that you're there, suddenly it's not so sure -- when you think everything is solved, suddenly everything falls apart -- it was something that I had to learn because it's the way of the world. After the Six Day War we thought that the Messiah was coming--it was a matter of waiting until he got to the next corner--and suddenly came the 1973 Yom Kippur War and everything went--there were people who said everything is finished -- we have nothing to look forward to -- we don't have the power that we had -- a lot of people became very discouraged. Then I realized that G-d is the Master of History--everything He does has its own logic, and as humans we cannot always perceive G-d's
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logic. The main thing is that we continue holding on to the original ideal which is the return of Jews to Israel. I came to the personal conclusion that life isn't what happens to you, life is what you do with it. I always felt very privileged to be a part of this struggle because its an active struggle. I always felt very sorry for the generation before me -- 80% of my family went up the chimneys in Auschwitz -- things happened to them, but our generation is an active generation, we pursue our goals regardless, and the main thing that is very encouraging to me, being more or less retired, is that the younger people are taking over and managing very well. That is a great source of pride for me -- that the younger generation here in Hebron is dealing with all the problems.
What advice would you give to a new family coming to live today in Hebron?
Levinger: Life is what you do. Nobody can guarantee anyone anything. I remember that Helen Keller wrote in her autobiography that security is an illusion. So all I can say is that when I first came to Hebron, I thought that I was sacrificing my children. We were living through very turbulent times in Hebron, and nobody ever guaranteed where the danger line would end. But now we're older and more mature and we see that danger can be anywhere -- in Tel Aviv or on buses in Jerusalem, so what you do is put your trust in G-d.
Now, many years later, when I see my children, I realize that I didn't sacrifice anything. I only gained, because my children grew up in an idealistic atmosphere. They had to deal with life and death situations and they are better adults because of this. And if anything, G-d did me a favor that I raised my children in Hebron.
Looking into the future, what is your vision of Hebron. You have been here for 28 years. When your grandchildren are here for 28 years, what do you see for them?
Levinger: I always saw Hebron as a Jewish city -- I once heard that a Greek philosopher said that whoever doesn't take the unexpected into account is not a true realist. I know we have a goal. How will it express itself? I'm sure we're on the right path. I can't predict anything -- these are very unpredictable times.
- Hold the Date -
Americans For a Safe Israel
Annual Convention
Sunday, December 15, 1996
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