IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, A BUS FULL OF CHASSIDIC JEWS LEFT TZFAT, ISRAEL FOR A SPECIAL TRIP ACROSS THE "GREEN LINE" TO THE ANCIENT CITY OF SHECHEM (CURRENTLY CALLED NABLUS). WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE PERIMETER OF THE CITY AROUND 2:00 AM, WE CHANGED TO ARMOURED VEHICLES, UNDER HEAVY IDF SECURITY. THE FINAL LEG OF THE JOURNEY AND OUR DESTINATION WAS THE TOMB OF YOSEF HA TZADDIK (THE RIGHTEOUS).
SINCE THE YEAR 2000, ORGANIZED AND PERMITTED ENTRY TO THE TOMB WAS FORBIDDEN TO JEWS. THAT YEAR THE TOMB, A YESHIVA, A LARGE LIBRARY OF SACRED BOOKS, TORAH SCROLLS AND A MUSLIM MOSQUE WERE TOTALLY BURNED AND DESTROYED BY "PALESTINIANS" DURING THE INTIFADA. ONE ISRAELI DRUSE SOLDIER WAS TORTURED AND KILLED.
I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE THERE FOR THE TRIP AND SHOT THE PHOTOS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE. FOR FULL IMPACT, VIEW THE SLIDESHOW WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS, WITH SOUND TURNED UP. I WANT TO THANK G-D FOR THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THESE PHOTOGRAPHS. KOL TOV, GERSHON FREEDMAN
