Mesika and IDF Chief Rabbi Peretz
Mesika and IDF Chief Rabbi PeretzIsrael news photo: Shomron Council

The IDF Chief Rabbi and Torah sages led 2,000 people in Tuesday night prayers at Joseph’s Tomb (Kever Yosef) in Shechem.

Jewish rights at Joseph’s Tomb (Kever Yosef) continued to be strengthened with visits by leading rabbis, this time led by Torah sages from Shomrei Emunim Hassidic sect in Bnei Brak, rabbis and students from Netanya, and the IDF’s Chief Rabbi, Rafi Peretz.

The visitors also toured Yitzhar, a Jewish community in Samaria.

The One Shechem organization and the Shomron (Samaria) Regional Council have won cooperation from the IDF, which escorts and guards the frequent prayers at the holy site.

The Oslo Accords explicitly accorded Israel sovereignty over Joseph’s Tomb with the right of Jews to pray there, but the government and the military abandoned the holy site after Palestinian Authority Arabs stormed and desecrated it shortly after the PA launched the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo War.

Monthly visits by leading rabbis have restored a continuing Jewish presence at Kever Yosef in Shechem, which the Bible records as having been purchased by the forefather Yaakov (Jacob).

The leading Torah sage of the Vishnitz Chassidic sect recently visited and prayed at the tomb.