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Program
Mount Grizim - location profile
More information about the area
How Joshua entered the Land
Program
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G.T.H. offers a biblical tour with a guide, (if nessesary with a
bullit proof vehicle, around mount grizim, a scenic sight on the city of Shichem
(Nablus) Josef tumb. A visit at the samaritan temple at the peak of mount Grizim.
2 You can take a biblical/spiritual
tour in the valley of Shichem to elon more and mount Kabir (where
Avraham received the promise for the land Israel) , or south to Shilo (where the
mishkan stood for more then 350 years and S'muel has served Hashem),
have a spiritual adventure and get involved with the hartland of Israel.
3 Combine the tour and work the
Holy land to make the connection with Israel. Working options in
the right season's from march to october. Working in the vineyard and/or
olive vineyard.
4 Bed and breakfast, dining will be provided by
G.T.H. in the dinerhal all day's a week, 3 meals a day for low prices.
5
Visit the Cold mineral water spring,
coming out of the
mountain, covered with prunetrees. The water is alway's the same
tempeture. Swimming after work and get refreshed again.
6 Diverse lectures,
about the "Thora"
and Halacha.
7 Natural medical treatment ,
if needed is
provided by profesionals in Jewish art of reflectology, Massage, Herbal
treatment and treatment with Vine and olive oil
Location and Setting
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The Valley of Shechem in central
Samaria separates two important mountains, Gerizim on the south and Ebal on
the north. Mount Gerizim is 2,855 feet in elevation; Mount Ebal reaches a
height of 3,080 feet. The two mountains are visible from Nebi Sh'muel, a hill
on the northern side of Jerusalem, some twenty-five miles to the south. |
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Both mountains provide a commanding view of most of Samaria. The
Mediterranean coast lies on the western horizon; across the Jordan Valley on
the east, one can see the Dome of Gilead and much of the land of Transjordan.
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The valley between these mountains provides a natural amphitheater
possessing outstanding acoustic properties. |
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Historical and Biblical Significance
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Mount Gerizim is closely associated
with the Samaritans and their religion. When the Assyrians deported most of
the citizens of the Northern Kingdom in the seventh century B.C., they
repopulated the Northern Kingdom with people who did not know the God of
Abraham. The people living in the region, part Jew, part Gentile, came to be
known as Samaritans (from the name of Omri’s capital, Samaria). Over the years,
this mixed people developed a Pentateuch-based religion, with worship centered
at Mount Gerizim. |
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According to their understanding of the event, it was on Mount Gerizim
that Abraham offered Isaac (Gen 22:2). It was also understood to be the place
where God chose to establish His name (Deut 12:5). Although this and similar
references are to Jerusalem, the Samaritan identification of the "place" as
Mount Gerizim made it the focus of their spiritual values. As the Samaritan
woman informed Jesus, the mountain was center of their worship (John 4:20).
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In the fourth century B.C., with the authorization of the Persians, the
Samaritans built a temple on Mount Gerizim. It was destroyed, however, by John
Hyrcanus in 107 B.C. when he took nearby Shechem and the surrounding territory.
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More information about the area: |
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A mountain south of
Shechem, 881 m. high. Called in the Bible "The Mountain of Blessing" (Deuteronomy
11,29). Moshe Rabeinu (Moses) placed representatives of six of the twelve
tribes on the mountain to read out the blessings of the Lord, which shall be
given, -to that follows the laws of the Torah. In Arabic called GabeI-A-Tur,
derived from the Aramaic Tura Bricha (Har Habracha). The Samaritans see it
as their holy Moria Sanctified Mountain to which they pilgrim and where they
sacrifice the Passover lamb. In the time of Alexander the Great they built
their own temple which was used as a religious, spiritual center. In the
year 125 BCE this Samaritan temple was destroyed by Yochanan Horkenos the
Hasmonean (on the east side of the mountain the only thing left are the
stairs leading to that temple). Till this day the Samaritans keep their
rituals on this mountain. Nearby there is a synagogue and a new Samaritan
neighborhood. |
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Mount
Ebal |
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A mountain north of
Shechem, 940 m. above sea level. Called in the Bible "The Mountain of Curse"
as opposed to Mount Grizim, south of Shechem, called "Mountain of Blessing"
(Deuteronomy 11, 29). Moshe (Moses) Rabeinu placed representatives of six of
the twelve tribes on the mountain to read out the curses of the Lord which
shall be given to whoever does not follow the laws of the Torah. At the foot
of the mountain ancient tombs from the different periods of the city of
Shechem were discovered. |
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Shechem (Nablus) |
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Town in
Samaria between Mount Grizim and Mount Ebal. Site of ancient town with
continuous existence from Canaanite times to the present. (In 1993 CE -
90,000 inhabitants, mainly Moslem; small Christian and Samaritan community).
Mentioned in Egyptian documents from the 19th century BCE, In El Amarna
letters, 14th century BCE. From the time of the Patriarchs: Abraham built an
altar nearby (Genesis 12, 6-7); Jacob bought land and built an alter
(Genesis 33, 18-19); where the vengeance of Shimon and Levy followed the
abduction of their sister Dina. During the time of the tribal settlement,
the boundary between the inheritance of Ephraim and Menashe was at Shechem
(Joshua
17,7). The town was one of the 6 cities of refuge
(Joshua 2,7). The body of Joseph was buried in Shechem after it was returned from Egypt
(Joshua
24,32). At Shechem Joshua confirmed the covenant with the Lord. Gideon's son,
Avimelech, was crowned king of Shechem. After the division of the Kingdoms
Jeroboam made it his capital (Kings I, 12, and 25). After the destruction of
the Kingdom of Israel, the Assyrian king settled exiled Samaritans and
Gentiles there (Kings 2, 17, 24). Sanbalat of Shechem, governor of Samaria
in the Persian period interfered with the building of the walls of Jerusalem
in the time of Shivat Zion (Nechemia 3, 33-35). Alexander the Great allowed
the Samaritans to build a temple in Mount Grizim. In 129 BCE, Yochanan
Horkenos extended the town and destroyed the Samaritan temple, Vespasianus
razed the ancient town to the ground and built a new town between Mount
Grizim and Mount Ebal (the site of the present town), from whose Latin name
Neapolis the Arab name Nablus derives. It continues to be known by the Latin
name in Mishnaic and Talmudic times. Afterwards it fell to the Byzantines
and the Crusaders, and subsequently to the Arabs. In the 13th century CE
Jews came to Shechem fleeing from Jerusalem during the Mongol invasion.
Travelers from the 16th century onwards report on Jewish settlement there.
Shechem was capture by the IDF in the Six Day War. A Yeshiva had been
established near Joseph's tomb. |
a Short movie with explanation
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