// 845.371.2222 The burial sites of our Avos and Imahos are down in the cave, deep underground. The entrance to the cave has been hidden many years, and legend has it, that whoever enters it, will die, and never leave. Up in the building over the Maarah, the names of our Forefathers have been placed in the following order: Avraham and Sarah in the middle, Yitzchok and Rivkah to his right, Yakov and Leah to his left. ••• Eretz Yisroel has always been the center of storms. Many have attacked her, and different armies conquered her through the centuries. The sixth century saw a church being built in the building, while the seventh century saw the church being converted into a mosque. In the twelfth century the Crusaders changed it back into a Church, until the Moslems turned it into a mosque in the thirteenth century. From then on, Jews and Christians were forbidden to enter the building; the closest they could go was the seventh step. On that step Jews would stand, mocked and degraded, yet fiercely loyal to the holy site. For the next seven hundred years, they got no further. Remaining on the seventh step, they washed it, with their tears, longing, and heartfelt prayers. ••• 161
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