Noam Arnon Recounts Restoration of Abraham Avinu Synagogue in Hebron Amid Local Opposition

Noam Arnon from Hebron, who led the restoration and reconstruction of the ancient Abraham Avinu synagogue, shared the story behind the project as part of the Heritage Ministry and Israel Heritage Sites Council's "Documentation of Pioneers and Founders of the Settlement" initiative. Despite opposition from local Arab residents, Arnon detailed how the effort began and persevered. The initiative aims to preserve the history of settlement establishment across various regions, including the Jordan Valley, Judea, Samaria, Benjamin, the Golan, and the Galilee, through hundreds of interviews.

Arnon recalled meeting Professor Ben-Zion Tavger, who inspired him to act personally rather than wait for government intervention after seeing the synagogue's ruin. Early work was conducted discreetly within a sheep pen, but local Arabs filed complaints claiming land leases from the Jordanian government, leading to arrests and legal action against Tavger. Nevertheless, the work continued, and the government eventually recognized it could not halt the restoration.

Arnon also recounted a pivotal meeting arranged by Rabbi Levinger with then-Defense Minister Shimon Peres, who authorized exposing and cleaning the synagogue. Despite lacking prior experience, Arnon was appointed to manage the project. The team worked carefully to avoid conflicts, with military, police, and media presence. After six months of clearing debris, they reached the floor level and revealed much of the walls. Ahead of Rosh Hashanah 5737 (1976), Arnon invited the community to pray in the restored synagogue, marking a profound moment symbolized by his reading of the Haftarah "Return, O children, to your borders." The interview is part of a broader project documenting the stories of settlement pioneers for future generations.