Samaria couple ask IDF Central Command and Defense Minister to permit holding their son’s brit milah at Joseph’s Tomb, citing a personal connection and provisions from the Oslo Accords ensuring Jewish access.
Samaria Couple Requests to Hold Son’s Brit Milah at Joseph’s Tomb
A couple from Samaria has formally appealed to Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth and Defense Minister Israel Katz for permission to hold their newborn son’s brit milah (circumcision ceremony) this Thursday at Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem (Nablus).
Citing their deep personal and spiritual connection to the biblical figure of Joseph, the parents emphasized the religious and national significance of the site.
“Joseph’s Tomb is deeply meaningful to us. Holding our son’s brit milah there would fulfill both a moral obligation and an act of historical justice,” they wrote.
Their request references the Oslo Accords, which guarantee Jewish access to holy sites in the territories. The couple included a copy of the official appendix specifying Joseph’s Tomb as one of two Jewish holy places protected under the agreement, alongside the Shalom Al Israel Synagogue in Jericho.
“This is not just a religious ceremony,” the couple added. “Restoring Jewish presence at the site is essential—morally, politically, and in terms of national security.”
The appeal comes as IDF Central Command is expected to present a plan within three weeks to restore permanent Jewish access to Joseph’s Tomb. The move follows a recent Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Subcommittee meeting on Judea and Samaria, where officials—including Samaria Council Head Yossi Dagan and MK Zvi Sukkot—pressed for renewed Jewish presence at the site.
While the couple’s request pertains to a one-time event, it aligns with broader efforts to reinstate regular visitation and religious activity at this historically significant site.
