Thousands Join Largest Shacharit at Joseph’s Tomb Since Second Intifada

Thousands of Jews entered Joseph’s Tomb (Kever Yosef) in Shechem overnight and into Wednesday morning, with hundreds remaining for what organizers described as the largest daylight Shacharit (morning) prayer at the site since the Second Intifada.

The visit marked a major change from the limited nighttime entries that have taken place for years under heavy IDF protection. More than 50 armored buses brought worshippers to the compound, where prayers, dancing and singing continued through the night and into the morning.

The entry was approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz and secured by Israeli forces. Worshippers came from across Israel and abroad for the 41st day of the Omer, known in Kabbalistic tradition as “Yesod ShebeYesod,” a day associated with Yosef HaTzaddik. 

Inside the compound, people prayed and cried near the tomb, while outside, others danced and sang. Volunteers distributed food and drinks throughout the night, including cholent, kugel, cakes and hundreds of liters of drinks.

Natanel Shnir, from the Joseph’s Tomb administration, described the event as a “historic operation.” He said that “inside people are crying and praying, and outside there is joy and dancing. It’s a mini-Meron.”

The rare event also became a public call for restoring a permanent Jewish presence at the site. The campaign is being led by Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, MK Tzvi Sukkot, Rabbi Dudu Ben Natan, whose son Shuval Ben Natan fell in battle in southern Lebanon, and other activists. They are pushing for a staged return to the site, including the return of the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva, which was evacuated from the compound and now operates from Yitzhar.

Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich said the prayer was part of a wider national return.

“The Jewish people are returning home to every part of our land. Kever Yosef is living testimony to the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and its land,” Smotrich said. “This prayer is another stage in a historic correction and in strengthening our hold on the Shomron.”

Smotrich called on Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve a permanent Jewish presence at the tomb.

“This is the most fitting Zionist response to our enemies — deepening our roots in our land,” he said.

Dagan called the morning “historic” and thanked Katz for approving the start of daytime prayers at Joseph’s Tomb. He also thanked Smotrich, Sukkot and the Ben Natan family for their role in what he called the strategic plan to restore Israeli sovereignty at the site.

“Victory in the war means a full return to the tomb of Yosef HaTzaddik,” Dagan said.

Sukkot said the event carried deep personal meaning for his family. His son, Hallel David, who is named after Sukkot’s grandfather Rabbi Hillel Lieberman, celebrated his chalakeh (Upsherin) at the site. Lieberman was murdered near Joseph’s Tomb after the IDF withdrew from the compound in 2000.

“From here we send one demand: restore the permanent Jewish presence and the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva,” Sukkot said.

For the worshippers and officials who took part, the morning was presented as another step toward regular daylight access to Kever Yosef. Organizers said they will continue pressing the government to move from coordinated visits to a permanent Jewish return to the site.