The Samaria Regional Council announced that thousands of worshippers entered the Joseph’s Tomb compound in the city of Shechem Thursday morning and held a mass morning prayer service with the Four Species for the first time in decades. The visit took place on the day of the ushpizin of Joseph the Righteous, a foundational figure in Jewish tradition.
The entry took place in daylight in two rounds, organized by the council with the help of volunteers from the Joseph’s Tomb and Holy Sites Administration, and accompanied and approved by the IDF and security forces.
The daytime entry came following Defense Minister Israel Katz’s decision to expand visiting hours at the site, part of a long-running effort led by Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan and MK Tzvi Sukkot, together with Rabbi Dudu Ben Natan, father of soldier Shuval Ben Natan who fell in battle in southern Lebanon. Shuval worked extensively to restore the compound, and after his death his father continued to advance the effort. The expanded hours are part of a plan for a permanent return to Joseph’s Tomb and the restoration of the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva to activity at the site.
Participants in the event included MKs Erez Malul and Uriel Bosso, Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, Judea and Samaria Division commander Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller, Border Police commander Chief Superintendent Yitzhak Brick, Border Police Judea and Samaria commander Deputy Chief Superintendent Nisu Guata and Israel Prison Service commissioner Brig. Gen. Kobi Yaakovi. During the prayer, those present held a special thanksgiving prayer for the rescue of the passenger plane from Dubai, and Dagan thanked the administration volunteers and all security forces who accompanied and secured the entry.
Dagan said: “There is a moving and especially symbolic moment here. Precisely on Sukkot, on the night of the ushpizin of Joseph the Righteous, thousands of Jews come to pray at his tomb, and this morning we merit to reach it again with our heads held high and in daylight. This is exactly the change we fought for. For 25 years the people of Israel did not give up on Joseph’s Tomb and did not forget this holy place. We are advancing step by step, and will continue until a full and permanent return to Joseph’s Tomb. We expect the government of Israel to give approval, to return the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva here fully, to raise the flag of Israel here, and to return to hold this holy place. We ask on behalf of everyone to send blessings of strength and courage to our heroic brothers who acted with bravery on the plane and saved hundreds of people from the insane attack that could have been here in Israel. Sending blessings of strength and courage to IDF soldiers, Border Police, Israel Police and all security forces.”
MK Tzvi Sukkot noted: “We merit to make more history at Joseph’s Tomb. For the first time since the abandonment, a mass Hallel prayer and thousands of Jews until 9 in the morning in the plaza of Joseph the Righteous’s tomb. This is another step on the path to full return. The Samaria Council is ready to set up all the infrastructure, the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva is waiting for the order to return and I call from here to the prime minister – give the order even before the elections to carry out this historic correction. To return to Joseph’s Tomb.”
MK Erez Malul said: “Happy holidays to all the people of Israel. We are here praying at the tomb of Joseph the Righteous to merit all the people of Israel, to protect the soldiers and the Torah scholars, and that we should live with God’s help in unity. Amen.”
MK Uriel Bosso added: “A great privilege today for the people of Israel, on the day of the ushpizin of Joseph, to truly come to the tomb of Joseph the Righteous. Joseph the Righteous, who was in exile and in the end reached the kingship of kingships. There is no doubt that this day symbolizes, when the people of Israel in their masses are here in daylight in Shechem, at the tomb of Joseph the Righteous, our hold here in the Holy Land, in the Land of Israel. May it be God’s will that we merit true redemption and complete unity, that we merit to sit in the sukkah of the skin of the Leviathan. We thank the security forces who are securing this massive event, with thousands of people coming here today, with reinforced forces, and giving people the ability to pray at the tomb of Joseph the Righteous at this time.”
Rabbi Yossi Elitzur, head of the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva, concluded: “Great thanks to all those engaged in the work. Joseph the Righteous unites the brothers. When there are crises, when there are difficulties, here we see how all the crises become small and all the family can be united. We hope that all the people of Israel will sit in one sukkah and in great joy, from this holy place, to complete redemption soon. Certainly we are ready every day to return here. We expect and hope to return and be here day by day, in the place that has been waiting for us so many years.”