SPONSORED BY: SHARONA, JOSH, DOV AND MOSHE HALICKMAN IN MEMORY OF SHARONA'S GRANDMA DORA (DOROTHY DUBROW z"l) WHO PASSED AWAY THIS PAST SUNDAY

In Breisheet 37:14, Jacob asks Joseph to go to Shechem and see whether his brothers and their flocks are okay.

According to the Gemara in Sanhedrin 102a, Shechem was a place predestined for misfortune: In Shechem Dina was raped. In Shechem Joseph was sold by his brothers. In Shechem the United Kingdom of the House of David was split.

Shechem was also an Ir Miklat, a city of refuge where an inadvertent killer would seek refuge until he would be brought to trial. The Gemara in Makot 10a says that the reason why Shechem was an Ir Miklat was bec when he and his family returned from Lavan's house (Breisheet 33:18).

The Gemara is Sotah 13b asks why Joseph's bones were buried in Shechem. The answer according to Rabbi Chama B'Rabbi Chanina is that B'nei Yisrael reasoned: The brothers kidnapped him from Shechem and it is to Shechem that we should return his lost object (his body).

The Midrash in Shmot Raba 20:19 presents a parable about a group of people who steal a cask of wine and drink it. When the owner finds out he says "I forgive you for stealing the wine, but could you at least put the empty cask back in the cellar where you found it?" Joseph asked B'nai Yisrael to rectify the sin in the place where it occurred.

Sadly on October 7, 2000, Joseph's tomb was attacked and set on fire by Palestinian residents of Shechem (Nablus). Rabbi Hillel Lieberman was killed trying to protect the tomb and the Yeshiva that was housed there.

Israeli law states that although Shechem was handed over to Arab military control, Jews are still supposed to have access to Joseph's Tomb. On June 2, 2005, over 300 Jews went to Joseph's tomb (which was almost totally destroyed) and were once again able to pray there. They were in essence reclaiming stolen property.

We must take it upon ourselves to ensure that the Jewish people have access to all of our holy sites throughout the land of Israel.