Shabbos in Chevron

Is it too late to write about Shabbos if it is already Monday? Maybe not, since you are allowed to say Havdala until Tuesday.

I was in Chevron for Shabbos. I can hear all your minds turning, and for the girls out there, who've been to Chevron for a Shabbos, I can hear you thinking, 'met any cute soldiers?' Nope. I haven't met any. Said hi to some, good shabbos, talked to them, put a smile on their faces, yes. T-shirts, numbers, dog tags, souvenirs, no. There' s a difference.

I find it a little sad that anyone who heard I was going to Chevron for shabbos said to me, 'have fun with the soldiers!' And I thought, why would I? I'm going to have a nice shabbos. They are just doing their job. Why would I hang out with them, why would I go to Chevron for the soldiers?

When I came there, I realized what they were talking about. The place was full of soldiers, all over the place, guarding every corner, street, and doorway. It is necessary, because Chevron is not safe, with the arabs lurking around, waiting to pounce. These soldiers were there to protect. They were doing their job. But there were so many of them, and they were friendly, wanting to talk to us.

I had an amazing Shabbos. the best part was Friday night, davening kabalas shabbos by mearas hamachpela. It was awesome, so many different tunes, that I never heard before. So many different kinds of people, singing together, dancing, putting their heart and soul into the prayers. I enjoyed it immensely.

We also had an organized tour Shabbos afternoon, of the arab quarters, that was the original city of Chevron, before it was moved. We saw doorways that had the imprint of mezuzas on them, and magen dovids carved into the wall. There were soldiers standing with guns, aimed at the many arabs who stood there, staring at us with beady eyes. I can only imagine what thought were going through their heads.

We spoke to the soldiers. Kept them awake when they were bored on the job. One of them laughed so hard when I was rattling off in English, and he didn't understand a word I said. But the main thing I realized is, they are people, just like us. Many of them are 19, like me. And they stand there in bulletproof vests, with guns in their hands, protecting their people, and their land, while I am touring, having a good time, free to do what I want. It is something I can't fathom. Many of them asked me if I would make aliya, and go into the army. I said no, I don't think I'd be able to do it.

I can only hope that I made their job a little easier this shabbos, and put a smile on their faces. I took a picture with a gun after shabbos, got a bullet just cuz i find it cool, wished them all well, and left.

Taking down numbers, giving them mine, asking them to give me their t-shirt off their backs, these are things I don't think I'd ever do, though I've seen it been done by other girls. I asked a soldier if it bothers him that some of these girls just see a cute face in uniform, and not a person. They don't seem to care. Maybe I make a bigger deal out of it, or maybe I gave him something to think about.

That was my shabbos in Chevron.