This weekend, Parshat Lekh Lekha - Genesis 12-17 - is read aloud, detailing the Divinely-commanded journeys of the Patriarch Abraham from his father's house in Mesopotamia to the Land of Israel. The journeys end in "the place near Shechem, Elon Moreh" - and a special mass Sabbath gathering to mark the occasion will be held this week in present-day Elon Moreh, just east of Shechem.
With past experience as the guide, hundreds of people are expected to attend - even though Elon Moreh is the furthest large Yesha community from central Israel. It will be the ninth consecutive year in which the Elon Moreh weekend is being held.
The theme of the weekend will be "National Responsibility" - specifically the religious-Zionist camp's outreach movements that are beginning to make inroads around the country. "This is based on Abraham's efforts to bring his neighbors close to G-d and bring them 'under the wings of the Divine Presence,'" the organizers explain.
Elon Moreh was the first Jewish community in the Shomron over 30 years ago, and "continues to blaze many new trails even today," the Shabbaton organizers say. Several years ago, the town prepared in advance for the government's "dry up Yesha" policy, preparing many new apartments for families, and for this reason, Elon Moreh continues to grow by tens of families each year.
This is not the only special Sabbath being held these weeks throughout Judea and Samaria. In two weeks' time, the Torah portion Chaye Sarah (beginning in Gen. 23) detailing the purchase of the Machpelah Cave in Hevron will be read, and thousands of people are expected to follow tradition by flocking to Hevron for the occasion.
Shortly afterwards, when VaYetze (beginning in Gen. 28) and the story of Jacob's dream in Beit El is read, the new-old town of Beit El will host hundreds of people for its anniversary Sabbath. The event will mark 29 years since the re-founding of Beit El, some 20 kilometers north of Jerusalem.
Finally, the anniversary of the death of Matriarch Rachel - whose death and burial is recounted in more than one place in Genesis - is being marked today (Thursday), the 11th of the month of MarCheshvan. Thousands of people have already frequented the holy site in Bethlehem - less than one kilometer south of the Jerusalem city lines - today, and more continue to arrive.
With past experience as the guide, hundreds of people are expected to attend - even though Elon Moreh is the furthest large Yesha community from central Israel. It will be the ninth consecutive year in which the Elon Moreh weekend is being held.
The theme of the weekend will be "National Responsibility" - specifically the religious-Zionist camp's outreach movements that are beginning to make inroads around the country. "This is based on Abraham's efforts to bring his neighbors close to G-d and bring them 'under the wings of the Divine Presence,'" the organizers explain.
Elon Moreh was the first Jewish community in the Shomron over 30 years ago, and "continues to blaze many new trails even today," the Shabbaton organizers say. Several years ago, the town prepared in advance for the government's "dry up Yesha" policy, preparing many new apartments for families, and for this reason, Elon Moreh continues to grow by tens of families each year.
This is not the only special Sabbath being held these weeks throughout Judea and Samaria. In two weeks' time, the Torah portion Chaye Sarah (beginning in Gen. 23) detailing the purchase of the Machpelah Cave in Hevron will be read, and thousands of people are expected to follow tradition by flocking to Hevron for the occasion.
Shortly afterwards, when VaYetze (beginning in Gen. 28) and the story of Jacob's dream in Beit El is read, the new-old town of Beit El will host hundreds of people for its anniversary Sabbath. The event will mark 29 years since the re-founding of Beit El, some 20 kilometers north of Jerusalem.
Finally, the anniversary of the death of Matriarch Rachel - whose death and burial is recounted in more than one place in Genesis - is being marked today (Thursday), the 11th of the month of MarCheshvan. Thousands of people have already frequented the holy site in Bethlehem - less than one kilometer south of the Jerusalem city lines - today, and more continue to arrive.