Thousands Pray at Joseph's Tomb in Rare Daytime Event

Thousands of worshippers gathered at the tomb of Joseph the Righteous in the Palestinian city of Nablus (Shechem) for a festive morning prayer service with the Four Species, a ritual not performed there in decades. The unprecedented daytime entry, occurring on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, was facilitated by the Samaria Regional Council and supported by the IDF and security forces.

This event marks a significant step in efforts to re-establish a permanent Jewish presence at the holy site. The expanded access hours were approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz, following a prolonged campaign led by Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan and MK Zvi Sukkot. The initiative is also linked to the memory of fallen soldier Shoval Ben-Nathan, whose father continues to advocate for the site's return.

Among the attendees were several Knesset members, senior military officials including the head of Central Command, and representatives from the Border Police and Prison Service. During the prayer, participants offered a special thanksgiving for the recent rescue of a passenger plane from Dubai. Dagan expressed gratitude to volunteers and security forces for their role in the operation.

Dagan stated, "This is a particularly moving and symbolic moment. Especially on Sukkot, on the day of hospitality for Joseph the Righteous, thousands of Jews come to pray at his grave, and this morning we are privileged to come to him again with our heads held high and in daylight. This is exactly the change we fought for." He urged the Israeli government to approve the return of the "Od Yosef Chai" yeshiva and a permanent presence at the site.

MK Sukkot echoed these sentiments, calling it "another step on the way to a full return" and urging the Prime Minister to authorize the historic move before the upcoming elections. The head of the "Od Yosef Chai" yeshiva, Rabbi Yossi Elitzur, expressed readiness to return to the site daily, emphasizing Joseph's unifying power.