Anash.org Feature: Tour the ancient sites mentioned in Parshas Chayei Sarah with “Picturing the Parsha” featuring unique and exclusive photos with detailed descriptions by Tanach explorer and photographer Sholom Raskin.
By Anash.org reporter
In each Parsha of Sefer Bereishis, we encounter new places where our Avos traveled and settled. Wouldn’t it be incredible to see what those sites look like today?
Tanach explorer and photographer Sholom Raskin has a curiosity and fascination with real-life locations of the stories from Tanach. During his time in Eretz Yisroel, he intensely explored hundreds of historical and archeological sites and documented it all.
In this weekly column on Anash.org throughout the weeks of Sefer Bereishis, Sholom presents photos of ancient sites mentioned in the parsha. Under each picture, there will be a caption with the Perek and Posuk that is being referenced and a short explanation of what the picture is about.
A printable PDF allows for easy printing of the photos and descriptions for reading on Shabbos and showing it at the Shabbos table. Click here to download the PDF.
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List of places in Parshas Chayei Sarah:
23:3 – The entrance to the ancient City of Chevron (about 17 miles southwest of Yerushalayim). This entrance is about 700 years older than Avraham Avinu. It is likely that Avraham Avinu walked on these stairs in order to talk to the Bnei Chais.
23:10 – The remains of ancient houses’ stone foundations in Chevron. On the right, remains, dated from the time of Avraham Avinu. Perhaps Ephron’s house was here?
23:17 – Near the security entrance by Meoras Hamachpela, there is an uncovered section of natural bedrock. This section directly faces the cave where the Avos are buried. Meaning, it is very likely that Avraham Avinu (and the other Avos) walked on these exact stones!
23:17 – View of Meoras Hamachpela from the Arab quarter. This entire area was purchased by Avraham Avinu.
24:62 – There is no clear location of where Be’er LaChai Ro’i is located. In Bereshis 16:14, it says that it is between the cities of Kadesh and Bered. The above Ashalim power station (about 20 miles south of Be’er Sheva), is located near Bered. It had the tallest solar power tower in the world at a height of 260 meters.
24:63 – View from an agriculture Kibbutz, Mashabei Sadeh (About 16 miles south of Be’er Sheva). Mashabei Sadeh is near Bered, on the way to Be’er LaChai Ro’i. The picture below was taken Mincha time Erev Shabbos.
25:9 – The tomb monuments of Avraham and Sarah, are almost directly on top of the burial caves of the Avos, Adam and Chava.
25:11 – View from the ancient fort of Nitzana (about 30 miles south of Rafah), which overlooks the approximate area of Be’er LaChai Ro’i.
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SholomTravels.com, an online travel guide by Sholom Raskin, contains a comprehensive list of places mentioned in Tanach and where they are mentioned; 115 locations based on tiers, location in Eretz Yisroel, archaeology, history, nature, and viewpoints; an interactive Google Maps page; as well as hundreds of pictures and videos.
I really enjoy these parsha picture posts. Would it be possible to post it earlier in the week please