What does it really mean to encounter Hebron—not as a headline or a controversy, but as an eternal city that anchors the Jewish story from its earliest beginnings? In Episode 2 of Live the Land, host Franny Waisman explores why Hebron remains one of the most powerful places to understand Jewish history, identity, and destiny.

Franny opens with a personal story about her children’s education in Israel and the profound spiritual connection they are building to Torah through lived experience. That story becomes the doorway into Hebron: a place where text, land, and legacy meet in real time.

True connection to Israel comes through learning, experience, and presence.

Franny is joined by Yishai Fleischer, the international spokesperson for the city of Hebron, who unpacks Hebron’s central role in Jewish history and spirituality. Together, they explore Hebron as the burial site of the patriarchs and matriarchs, a city that has always been contested, and a place that is also secure and evolving in the present.

They discuss archaeological discoveries, the Biblical Highway Project that highlights Israel’s ancient routes, and the power of simplicity in building a lasting connection to the land. Through scripture, history, and personal insight, the episode frames Hebron not only as a memory of the past, but as a living link to the Jewish future.

About The Guest:

Yishai Fleischer is the international spokesperson for the city of Hebron and a leading advocate for sharing Hebron’s story with the world. He is a communicator, educator, and guide who brings biblical literacy, historical depth, and present-day perspective to one of Judaism’s most foundational cities.

In this episode:

• Hebron is a foundational city in Jewish history and spiritual identity.
• Ma’arat HaMachpela ties the Jewish people to the Avot and Imahot in a tangible way.
• Hebron today is both contested and secure, with growing opportunities for tourism and education.
• Archaeology and scripture together deepen the experience of “knowing the land.”
• Identity and self-perception shape how we relate to Israel’s past and future.

Ready to deepen your connection to Israel beyond the map and the headlines?

Tune in to the full episode and discover Hebron—where it all began.