Numbering in the millions in antiquity, the Samaritans appear both in the Torah and the New Testament. Ruthlessly persecuted for centuries, by the start of the twentieth century they dwindled down to only about 100 members. Numbering some 850 today, they live where they have always lived, near Mount Gerizim, or the southern slopes of the town of Nablus (Shechem) in the West Bank.
I headed out there a few days ago to visit the holy sites of Mt. Gerizim and to catch up with some old acquaintances that I have met in the past. Among those is Husney (Yafet) Cohen, the brother of the High Priest and founder of the Samaritan Museum in the village of Kiryat Luza where half of the community reside. He is a font of knowledge and has written over 20 books on the Israelite Samaritans and their history.
According to the Samaritans, they are the remnant of the Israelite Tribe of Joseph (Ephraim and Menashe) who were not carted off to Assyria by Tiglath Pileser III in the early 8th century BCE and have been living in the same place for the past 3,600 years. From their perspective, Mt. Gerizim is Mount Moriah and both Jerusalem and the Temple that was there (prior to its destruction by the Romans) was constructed on false pretenses and illegitimate.
Rather, they consider Mount Gerizim to be the place where God created the universe, the site where Abraham was to Sacrifice Isaac, where Joshua placed the 12 stones after entering the land, where Jacob had his famous dream with the angels, and more. It is here where Samaritans gather during the three pilgrimage festivals and where they conduct the sacrifice of the Paschal Offering.
Today Mount Gerizim is protected as a National Park and is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating places in all of Israel. Unfortunately, due to its location in Samaria, it is rarely visited by tourists or Israelis. During the almost six hours that I spent scouring the site and meeting with people in the village, I did not see even one tourist.
In addition to the archeological site of the Samaritan temple and Byzantine monastery, one can visit the Samaritan Museum, do a tour of the Tahini factory, explore the remains of a Roman Temple to Zeuss at nearby Tel er Ras, see a Samaritan synagogue as well as the grounds where the communal Passover sacrifice is carried out as described in the Book of Numbers.
Soon there will be an option to overnight in the village and there is catering for groups available with advance notice.
Check out the photos for more information and CONTACT ME about arranging a visit to this unique community.
