Jerusalem – Dozens of Arabs attacked a Jew on Motzei Shabbat at Kever Shmuel HaNavi (the Tomb of Samuel the Prophet), which is situated on the north-western outskirts of Jerusalem. The site is located just a few minutes from Jerusalem’s neighborhoods, and is home to a Kollel (a school for studying of the Talmud and rabbinic literature).
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Binyamin Friedman, who heads the Ne’eman Shmuel HaNavi association, told Arutz7 on Sunday that the attack occurred as a result of the Ramadan prayers and fasting, which are the cause of increased tensions in the tombstone site, which is common to all three religions.
Friedman noted that Kever Shmuel HaNavi is generally a safe area and that Saturday night’s incident is very unusual. “A large Jewish presence in the area will prevent such incidents from occurring in the future,” he said.
Kever Shmuel HaNavi is considered one of the holiest places in Israel. It is a long-standing Jewish practice to pray and study at the site, and especially on the 28th day of Iyar, the anniversary of the Prophet Samuel’s death.
Samuel is one of the Jewish people’s greatest prophets. He was the prophet who anointed King Saul as Israel’s first king, and subsequently also anointed King David, the founder of Jewish Jerusalem. Samuel wrote the biblical books of Judges, Samuel, and the Scroll of Ruth which is traditionally read aloud on Shavuot. The site of his tomb is considered to be a place in which relative quiet is kept between Jews and Muslims.
Archaeological excavations on the site of Samuel’s Tomb have found remnants dating back as far as the period of the First Temple. The Crusaders called the place “Mount Joy”, since it was the first point on the route of pilgrims from which Jerusalem could be seen. During the period of the reign of the Mamluks.
Jews purchased the site and built in it a synagogue. Arabs later took over the area and turned it into a mosque.
“Jews purchased the site and built in it a synagogue. Arabs later took over the area and turned it into a mosque”
Davening at the site of an arab mosque can be provocative during the month of Ramadan. It would be better to daven at the kosel and not take the risk of going here.
“Friedman noted that Kever Shmuel HaNavi is generally a safe area”
Oh yea sure I was there a couple of times
Its between Jerusalem & Ramallah
Pretty safe a bullets distance away
Kever Shmuel HaNavi has never been a “safe” area for yidden, especially in the past several years. There is no shortage of kevorim of big tzadikim and heilege rabbonim in eretz yisroel so there is no need to come to this site for davening.
Says 3,
Yes, according to you we should just abandon any site that the Muslims have interest in.
I’m sure that would work very well – for the Palestinians.
#3, it is not the custom of Yiddin living Eretz Yisroel to abandon nor Ignore any Holy site, any site of kedusha or any kever of a tzadik. So although YOU are afraid to go there, the many, many Israeli’s as well as visitors who go to daven at the kever are not. The understanding and philosophy of any Israeli is that the country belongs to them and that is the truth and is fact. They do not and should not fear walking on their land. No one knows when or if an Arab will attack in the middle of Yerushalyim, at the Kosel, in Tel Aviv, in Haifa, in Eilat, or anywhere. As one cannot predict if some crazy ganuf will attack a Jew in the middle of Williamsburg or Flatbush. We cannot be afraid to live our lives as normally as possible. In Eretz yisroel that means learning and davening at kivrei tzadikim.
To #’s 1 & 3, In fact why don’t we just abandon Israel altogether so as not to offend palestinians, according to your logic, or lack thereof.
To my american brothers … relax
I visit the site daily at night, by day, even in the middle of the night and I have never ever encountered any negative incidents. Every time something goes a glitch in Eretz Yisroel there are two responses. One from those who live there and one from those who live thousands of miles away. We don’t expect you to understand our way of life and we definitely will never understand your way. The site is safe and one incident will not deter anyone from going and davening at Kever Shmuel Hanavi. When it was reported that there was fighting near Shimon Hatzadik’s kever the responses were the exact same as they are today. No one stopped going there either. As was the case with Kever Rachel and many other such places here in our land. When you hear of an incident daven for klal yisroel, don’t criticize our ways until you’ve lived in them.
I got hopelessly lost in the Arab Shuk last Friday, the first Friday of Ramadan (which, as a tourist I didn’t know was happening.) Surprisingly, I, a Jewish woman alone (stupid, I get that) was left completely ignored. The only thing I was yelled at was to come in & buy. But afterward I was told being there during Ramadan was dangerous, although I never felt it & quite enjoyed wandering around till I miraculously found my way out. Had I known it was Ramadan I never would have gone in there, but I have no problem at all davenning at Kevarim Tzaddikim no matter when & where.
It’s terrible that Jews are fearful of going to holy sites in EY. It is OUR land, not theirs (no, I am not PC). They need to respect our rights…G-d knows we bend over backwards to respect theirs, which I don’t think they’re entitled to anyway.
Do you think it was the first time Jews prayed there? No!
I used to avoid the shuk for years, in order to get to the Kosel, but, last summer I went with a friend who lives in E”Y and goes there all the time. I went through the shuk and it was very interesting and colorful and other Jews were there too. The vendors just want tourists to but their wares, not attack them. I also went to kever Shmuel Hanavi and there were Arab children playing there. I didn’t feel threatened when I went there. Still, one has to be wary and careful when getting around in E”Y.
HELLO!! What happened to the Yid who was attacked?