Six busloads of Jewish worshippers reached the burial site of Yosef (Joseph), son of Ya'akov (Jacob) in the biblical city of Shechem last night under heavy IDF security.
Shortly after midnight, six busloads of men and women from all over Israel were escorted by military vehicles to the ancient tomb. Organizers of the Shomron-based 'One Shechem' group provided the buses. Refreshments for Rosh Chodesh Kislev's Hachnasat Orchim – a ceremony marking the new month – were donated by Ya'akov Shalom ben Ruth from Savanna GA, in prayer for the safe return of the Jewish hostages in India (and for the health and complete recovery of Menachem Shalom ben Miriam).
The owner of Peace House in Hevron, American Jewish businessman Morris Abraham, was also the among hundreds of pilgrims who visited Joseph's Tomb last night.
Mob takeover
Until October 2000, the site was administered by the local Od Yosef Chai yeshiva. It was to remain open for Jewish access according to the Oslo agreement. However, in 2000 Arab mobs took over the compound, killing an Israeli soldier, and burned down the yeshiva and tomb. Jews have not had free access to the site since then.
Over the last 12 months Shomron Regional Council Head Gershon Mesika has been influential in obtaining monthly permits from the local IDF command to visit the site, but so far the visits are only allowed in the middle of the night.
New website
A new website is intended to create awareness about the shameful condition of the tomb and to be used as a tool to connect people who want to work towards returning honor to Joseph, often referred to as Yosef Hatzadik ("The Righteous") in Hebrew.
David Ha'ivri of The Shomron Liaison Office said Friday that his office is currently filming a documentary on the desecration of the holy site and on the efforts to repair it. Ha'ivri plans on touring Jewish communities around the world to present the film and, in his words, "arouse the support needed in order to redeem Yosef's honor."