Top MMA Fighters Visit Ancient Shiloh, Trainer Honors Site by Walking Barefoot and Praying

Leading MMA fighters with a combined social media following of around two million visited the ancient site of Shiloh in the West Bank as part of a tour organized by the Benjamin Regional Council. The visit was led by Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, alongside Eliana Penstin, head of the council's international desk. Among the participants were notable fighters such as John Lineker, former Bellator champion, Israeli UFC fighter Natan Levy, and international fighters including Lando Vanta, Maximus Bezanota, Jose Alberto Quinones, and Radek Stadler.

During the tour, the fighters learned about the history of the Tabernacle at Shiloh, a key site in Jewish history where the tribes of Israel once gathered. They prayed at the site for success and victory in their upcoming fights. A particularly moving moment occurred when one of the fighters' trainers removed his shoes to honor the sanctity of the Tabernacle site, walked barefoot, and prayed for several minutes. He later expressed deep emotion, saying, "I did not expect to feel this way. It is hard to put into words. It is a great privilege to walk where Hannah prayed, where Samuel was born, and where the tribes of Israel gathered."

Israel Gantz emphasized the importance of such visits, stating that the "battle for consciousness" has become one of Israel's most critical fronts alongside physical defense. He highlighted the need to counter lies, incitement, and antisemitism internationally by bringing influential people to see the historical truth firsthand. Gantz said, "Every influential person who visits Benjamin becomes another ambassador for the historical story of the Jewish people in the State of Israel."