A major new visitor experience highlighting the timeless Jewish connection to Chevron and the longstanding involvement of Chabad-Lubavitch in the city officially opened this week at Ma’aras Hamachpelah.

The new “Gateway to Chevron” center, launched by Chabad of Chevron, marks the opening phase of the broader “Field of Machpelah” Visitor Center project, located directly across from Ma’aras Hamachpelah, the resting place of the Avos and Imahos.

Designed as an immersive multimedia experience, the exhibit takes visitors on a journey through thousands of years of Jewish history in Chevron, beginning with Avraham Avinu’s purchase of the city’s burial cave and continuing through modern times. Through film, visual recreations, and interactive storytelling, visitors are introduced to the city’s central role in Jewish history and the unique role Chabad played in strengthening its Yiddishkeit throughout the generations.

A significant portion of the exhibit focuses on the deep historical bond between Chabad and Chevron. Organizers highlight how the Alter Rebbe sent support to strengthen the Yishuv in Chevron, while the Mitteler Rebbe later purchased property there and encouraged Chassidim to help establish and build the city’s Jewish community.

The center also seeks to expose visitors to the many lesser-known sites throughout Chevron connected to centuries of Jewish life, including the ancient Jewish cemetery and the kever of Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel Slonim, known as the “mother of the Chevron community” and one of the most prominent figures in early Chabad settlement in Eretz Yisroel.

Among those attending the inauguration were Israeli ministers and public officials, alongside rabbonim, community leaders, and representatives of the Chevron and Kiryat Arba communities.

The exhibit is housed in the historic Gutnick Building, long associated with expanding hospitality and Jewish infrastructure in the city. Organizers say the new project is part of a much larger vision to create a welcoming gateway for the hundreds of thousands of Yidden and tourists who visit Ma’aras Hamachpelah each year.

“Throughout the generations, the Rabbeim strongly encouraged and supported Jewish life in Chevron,” said Rabbi Danny Cohen, director of Chabad of Chevron. “This center gives every visitor the opportunity to experience the deeper story of Chevron and strengthen their connection to the city of our Avos and Imahos.”

The project was developed with private support together with assistance from Israel’s Ministry of Heritage, with organizers saying this newly opened phase is only the beginning of an ambitious long-term plan for the area.