Thousands of worshippers entered Joseph's Tomb in Shechem (Nablus) late Wednesday night for a special prayer service ahead of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year).
The visit was organized by the Samaria Regional Council with the assistance of volunteers from the Joseph's Tomb and Holy Sites Administration, and accompanied by IDF troops and the Samaria Brigade.
Among the thousands of worshippers who entered Joseph's Tomb overnight was a large group of women from Samaria. The women prayed for a good year, for the security of the people of Israel, and for the safety of IDF soldiers.
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said: "Precisely in the days before Rosh Hashanah, thousands come to Joseph the Righteous and prove that the Jewish People's connection to this site is alive, deep, and eternal. Joseph's Tomb is a holy site for the Jewish people, and access to it must not be limited to nighttime visits alone."
"We thank the IDF soldiers and everyone involved in making these visits possible, and we will continue working until we return fully and permanently to Joseph's Tomb, with a yeshiva and an Israeli flag flying at the site."
Dagan thanked Samaria Brigade Commander David Cohen, Samaria Regional Defense Officer Yisrael Rosenfeld, Border Police forces, and volunteers from the Joseph's Tomb Administration of the Samaria Regional Council.