New visitor center strengthens Israel’s heritage mission, connecting generations to the City of Patriarchs”
The Gateway to Hebron visitor center has officially opened on the Field of Machpelah, offering visitors an immersive journey through the Jewish history of the City of the Patriarchs.
Launched by Chabad of Hebron, the new center marks Phase One of the Field of Machpelah Visitor Center, located directly across from the Cave of the Patriarchs.
The project features a modern multimedia experience using film, visual recreations and immersive storytelling to trace Hebron’s Jewish history from Avraham Avinu to the present day. It also highlights the deep connection between Chabad-Lubavitch and Hebron, showing how Chabad leaders supported Jewish life in the city across generations.
The inauguration was attended by ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir, Amichai Eliyahu, Ze’ev Elkin and Orit Strock, along with mayors, rabbis and community representatives from Hebron and Kiryat Arba.
The exhibit is housed in the historic Gutnick Building, long associated with Jewish hospitality and infrastructure in Hebron. Organizers say the center is designed to become a world-class gateway for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit the Cave of the Patriarchs each year.
Rabbi Danny Cohen, director of Chabad of Hebron, said the center will help visitors from every background discover the deeper story of Hebron and strengthen their bond with the city of the fathers and mothers.
The project also encourages visitors to explore additional Jewish heritage sites in Hebron, including the ancient Jewish cemetery and the resting place of Rebbetzin Menucha Rachel Slonim.
Developed by Chabad of Hebron with private support and assistance from Israel’s Ministry of Heritage, the new center is only the beginning of a broader vision to restore Hebron’s history to its rightful place in Jewish memory.
