Thousands Including Samaritan Women Pray at Joseph's Tomb Ahead of Jewish New Year

Thousands of worshippers entered Joseph's Tomb in Nablus (Shechem) overnight Thursday for a special prayer event marking the upcoming Jewish New Year and the month of mercy and forgiveness. The entry was organized by the Samaria Regional Council with assistance from volunteers of the Joseph's Tomb and Holy Sites Administration, accompanied by IDF forces and the Samaria Brigade for security.

Among the crowd was a large group of Samaritan women who prayed for a good year, the security of the State of Israel, the safety of IDF soldiers, and the return of hostages. In recent months, Joseph's Tomb has seen many organized and secured visits by thousands of worshippers, including notable events such as Rabbi Shalom Arush's visit in the month of Tammuz, which featured a moving hair-cutting ceremony for the bereaved Yaniv family affected by the Huwara attack.

Access to Joseph's Tomb remains contentious, with some calling for permanent open access while authorities restrict visits to nighttime hours citing security concerns. Despite these limitations, large numbers of worshippers continue to visit the site during special periods like the month of Elul and the Days of Atonement.