More than 25 years have passed since the 'Oud Yosef Chai' yeshiva was expelled from the Joseph's Tomb complex in Nablus.
Now, ahead of the upcoming elections, the yeshiva leaders have sent a pointed letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - demanding: to right the wrong, to return to Joseph's Tomb - even before the elections.
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In a letter sent to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Rabbi Yossi Elitzur, head of the 'Oud Yosef Chai' yeshiva, MKs Zvi Sukkot and Yossi Dagan, called for an order to reopen the yeshiva to the Joseph's Tomb complex in Nablus.
The authors noted that according to the law, the yeshiva is supposed to stay at Joseph's Tomb daily, and is prepared and ready to return at any time.
In their letter, they described how on the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5761 - September 2000, with the outbreak of the Second Intifada, the yeshiva was hastily evacuated from the Joseph's Tomb complex, after an Arab mob rioted there, and a Border Police soldier was shot to death. Since then, even though the Ministry of Defense has previously expressed a willingness to allow daily entry to Joseph's Tomb, the promise has not been fulfilled.
The letter states: "In light of the approaching election days, we urgently and hopefully appeal to you: Order the restoration of the "Yosef Is Still Alive" Yeshiva to Joseph's Tomb even before the elections. This move will send a message to the people of Israel, the entire world, and our enemies in particular that the Israeli government will no longer abandon our holy one, and that "Yosef Is Still Alive" is indeed expressed in both its spiritual and literal meaning.".
They added: "This is a historic opportunity to right a wrong that has lasted for a quarter of a century, and to convey a clear message of a deep connection to the holy places for the people of Israel.".
The letter also noted the discussion held in the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, in which a representative of the Ministry of Defense himself expressed the ministry's intention to allow daily entry to the tomb. "However, to this day this has not been implemented in practice," it said. "The 'Od Yosef Chai' yeshiva is waiting and ready, both from a security and logistical perspective, to return and reside within the walls of the tomb of the father of the tribes of Israel.""
MK Zvi Sukkot said: "26 years ago, the State of Israel abandoned the tomb of the righteous Joseph in a shameful act and under the command of Ehud Barak. Recently, we have been making history and have been entering during the day to pray out of hope and desire to return to it in its entirety. I join the demand to restore the Jewish presence in the place in full throughout the year and to re-establish the "Oud Yosef Chai" yeshiva there.".
The Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva stated: "Twenty-five years is a long time, too long, for Joseph to be in prison. Blessed be God, there is great progress in the people of Israel, and the righteous Joseph calls to us from the pit - "I seek my brother." This pre-election period is an excellent opportunity to right the wrong, and to proudly return to Joseph's tomb in Nablus. We thank all those who worked and helped return the yeshiva to its natural place - and thus also to stop the shameful reward given to terrorism.".
