Jericho's Jews

Were you aware of the Jewish presence in Jericho? Yes, contemporary Jericho.

Upcoming activities includes lectures, music and a Shabbat hosting:

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What You Missed Over Chanukah - in Jericho

Go here.

Reports, photographs and video clips with Erna.

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Announcement From Jericho

Announcement from Jericho:

We are now praying once a week in Shalom al Israel in Jericho. The prayers are in the morning and with IDF escort.


On Thursday 7th of Sivan (9th June 2011)

On Tues 12th Sivan (14th June 2011)

On Tues 19th Sivan (21st June 2011)

Morning Prayer in the Shalom al Israel synagogue in Jericho

6:30 AM a bus leaves Jerusalem (Binyane HaUma)

Lifts can be arranged from central Israel

7:30 AM the bus leaves Mevoot Yericho for Jericho under army escort.

You must register in advance: Erna: 052-8699300; Yoni: 052-3527313

For youth / yeshiva boys: 25 sh per person, for organised groups: 10sh per person, otherwise 50 sh per person.

See the website.

Fight the Battle of Jericho

The Jericho group announces:

Tuesday 1st Nissan (5th April) in the early morning

We greet the month of redemption on the banks of the Jordan, in Gilgal, where Israel crossed the Jordan into the Land, in days gone-by…

Then we proceed to the new month prayer in the ancient Shalom Al Israel synagogue in Jericho.

A bus leaves Jerusalem at 6:30 AM. A lift can be arranged with Yoni (tel 052-3527313) from Petah Tikva, via highway 5 and Tapuah Junction.

Cost 25 sh for youth / students, otherwise, 50 sh. You must register in advance: Erna tel 052-8699300, or Yoni tel 052-3527313.

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Yes, It's A Mud Hut Structure Building Activity

At Jericho (well, close to), on Chanukah

They're calling it Botznukah (botz is Hebrew for mud) and it will take place on Monday next week, 5th day of Chanukah between 11:00 - 16:00 on the outskirts of Jericho.  Call the number if interested.

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Anachronistic Terminology

From the LA Times:-

Reporting from Jericho, West Bank —

Imagine you turned 10,000 years old — and nobody showed up at your birthday party.

That's a bit how they're feeling in the ancient West Bank city of Jericho, believed to be one of the world's oldest continually inhabited settlements.

Wow, "settlements" existed 10,000 years ago?

But was it a "Jewish settlement"?

The real news, though, there:-

Like much in the West Bank, Jericho's birthday fete appears to have fallen victim to inadequate finances, poor organization and political infighting. City officials said they received no funds to prepare. A planning committee fell into disarray as members and chairpersons kept changing. And a publicity firm was not even hired until 10 days before the event.

"Unfortunately, we've been late in everything," sighed Jericho city spokeswoman Weaam Iriqat.

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Again, Morning Prayer at Jericho

Rosh Hodesh Av

Rosh Hodesh Shaharit Prayer at “Shalom Al Israel” in Jericho

On Monday 1st Menachem Av (12th July 2010): Departure from the community of “Mevoot Yericho” (with IDF escort) at 7:45 AM. A bus will be provided from Binynei HaUma in Jerusalem at 6:30 AM and will stop over at Beit Hogla at 7:00 AM.

* Possibility of boarding the bus at Beit Hogla (near the old Beit HaArava junction – take Highway 1 from Jerusalem to the Jordan Valley, then turn north on Highway 90 and then travel 2km to the Mul Nevo army base).
* Possibility of arranging a ride from the central area (Petah Tikva, via Highway 5 and Tapuah Junction), phone Yoni 052-3527313.
* Cost: 50 sh; for youth and Yeshiva students: 25 sh.
* Advance booking required with Erna, tel 052-8699300 or Yoni, tel 052-3527313.

New Signposts for Shalom Al Israel

New signposts have been made and, with the help of G-d, we will affix them in and around Shalom Al Israel after the shaharit prayer in the Beit Knesset.

Beit Hogla is 9 Years-Old

We are situated in the lowest place in the world! Opposite Mt Nevo (where Moses is buried), we preserve the tradition of Moses our teacher.

Here is the place of the covenant between the multitudes of the Israelites and G-d, after crossing the Jordan river. Here, the Israelites held the first Pessah in the Land of Israel. Here the Israelites became a People with the aim of conquering the Land

On Monday 1st Menachem Av (12th July 2010) at 18:30: Guided tour and talk in Beit Hogla, followed at 21:00 by a fascinating lesson (in Hebrew) by Rav Doron Rozilio.

Contact Erna, tel 052-8699300 or Yoni, tel 052-3527313.

Next: Returning to Jericho

The Anniversary of the Conquest of Jericho

The 28th of Nissan is the day on which Jericho was conquered by Joshua Bin-Nun

On Monday the 28th Nissan (12/04/2010) at 18:00, we will meet in Beit Hogla for a talk by Rav Yossi Peli and Rav Itzhak Shapira. Everybody will sound the Shofar and burst forth.

Details: Erna, tel 052-8699300; Yoni, tel 052-3527313

Rosh Hodesh Iyar at "Shalom Al Israel" in Jericho

Shaharit Prayer in the "Shalom Al Israel" synagogue in the holy city of Jericho

Where the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan, where the first Brit Mila in the Land of Israel was performed. Here the angel told Joshua "Remove your shoes from your feet, because this place is holy".

On Thursday 1st Iyar (15th April 2010), departure from the community of "Mevoot Yericho" (with IDF escort) at 7:30 AM. A bus will be provided from Binynei HaUma in Jerusalem at 6:30 AM and will stop over at Beit Hogla at 7:00 AM.

Rosh Chodesh Prayer in Jericho

Shaharit Prayer on Rosh Hodesh Nissan in the Shalom Al Israel synagogue in the holy city of Jericho, where the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan, where the first Brit Mila in the Land of Israel was performed. Here the angel told Joshua "Remove your shoes from your feet, because this place is holy".

On Tuesday 1st Nissan (16th March 2010), departure from the community of "Mevo'ot Yericho" (with IDF escort) at 7:30 AM estimated return at 10:30 AM. A bus will be provided from Binynei HaUma in Jerusalem at 6:30 AM.

* Possibility of boarding the bus at Beit Hogla (near the old Beit HaArava junction – take Highway 1 from Jerusalem to the Jordan Valley, then turn north on Highway 90 and then travel 2km to the Mul Nevo army base).
* Possibility of arranging a lift with cars going to the event from central Israel via Highway 5 in the Shomron – phone Yoni.
* Cost: 50 NIS for youth and Yeshiva students: 25 NIS
* Advance booking required: Erna, tel 052-8699300, Yoni, tel 052-3527313.

Our Efficient Secret Service or Whatever

You would think that a blog post, like this one, which announced a Shabbat on the outskirts of Jericho (the second poster) would have been interesting.

But, well, this is Israel.

Jericho Documentation

From Oslo II

GAZA-JERICHO AGREEMENT

ANNEX II
Protocol Concerning Civil Affairs

Religious Affairs:

1. The Palestinian Authority shall ensure free access to all holy sites in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area determined by the respective religious sects and shall protect these sites.

2. The above is without prejudice to the arrangements with regard to archaeological sites as set out in subparagraph 30 below.

3. Visitors to holy sites shall behave according to accepted rules of behavior in holy sites.

4. Religious sects shall inform the Palestinian Authority of their respective holy sites in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. For the purposes of this paragraph, the relevant authority regarding Jewish holy sites shall be the Israeli Government.

5. A list of the existing Jewish holy sites is attached as Appendix A attached to this Annex.

6. Israel declares that no property (including lands, buildings and institutions) belonging to the Islamic Waqf in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area was taken by the military government or its Civil Administration, except such property that might have been put to use for public purposes such as schools and public roads.

7. Pending the entry into force of the Interim Agreement the holy site of Nebi Mousa shall be under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority for religious purposes.

8. During religious events that take place three times a year and other special occasions that shall be coordinated with the Israeli authorities, Palestinians shall have the right to religious pilgrimage to the al-Maghtas under the Palestinian flag.

9. Religious affairs in the "Shalom Al Israel" synagogue in Jericho shall be under the auspices of the Israeli authorities.

Now, why did I post that?

Because the Jerusalem Post can't get the facts straight:

Security forces began evacuating right-wingers from a Jericho synagogue who broke through IDF checkpoints in the West Bank on Sunday afternoon and entered the city, holding prayer services. They raised an Israeli flag...Upon entering the city, the activists - among them MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) - began to make their way to the ancient synagogue which was torched during the Second Intifada.

The city of Jericho falls under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority , and Israelis are not allowed to enter it.

One Morning and One Shabbat in Jericho

Rosh Chodesh prayers on February 14:

and a Shabbat program:

Praying At A Synagogue in...Jericho

A synagogue?

No, the synagogue, the only synagogue in Jericho.

The Shalom-al-Yisrael Synagogue.

I was last there in May 1994 the day it was handed over to the PA.

Here are pictures of the January 20, 2010 prayer visit there:

a) how it looks - inside a house:


b) arriving in bullet-proof buses with IDF escort:


c) PA official observes:


d) entering

e) prayer on raised boardwalk to protect the mosaic floor:


Here are the rest of Yonathan Gormezano's pictures.

Coming to Pray at Jericho?

December 22.

For info, the phone numbers on the poster.

Jericho & Environs at Night

You always wanted to see Jericho at night in the dark with the lights glowing eerily, right?

as seen from Mitzpeh Yericho's wedding hall, Nof HaYarden.

Moshe Rabeinu in Jericho

How about spending some quality time in Jericho?

Get ready, then. The above poster invites you to a celebration of Moshe Rabeinu's yahrtzeit on 7th of Adar II, which is on March 13th, a Thursday, between 6 and 10 PM.

Rav Dov Lior, Rav Gidi Ben-Zimrah, Rav Dr. Hagi Ben-Artzi, Daniella Weiss and neriah Ofan. Entertainment provided by Sinai Tor and you can spend the Shabbat there (in a tent).