The Return to Jericho - Milestones
Original article by: , translated from Hebrew by
Until 1993, Jericho had Yeshiva under the direction of Hanan Porat (ז"ל) with many students. After the Oslo accords, the number of students dwindled, so we founded the “Ateret Eliahu” Kollel in the ancient Shalom al Israel synagogue, under the presidency of Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh. The Rav who taught there daily was Rav Yossi Peli, who came daily with his students from Yitzhar, in the Samarian highlands, as well as two guards in civilian clothing.
In October 2000, the Arabs burned the Shalom al Israel synagogue, after they burnt the Tomb of Josef the month before. Thus, the second intifada started. The Israeli government no longer allowed Jews to visit the city of Jericho. We founded a non-profit organisation named “מורשת ותרבות ביריחו” (known in English as “Jewish Life in Jericho”), with the goal of not abandoning the region.
We held Torah lessons and events at IDF (Israel Defence Forces) checkpoints, during one and a half years. The IDF acquiesced and provided security for us during our events, so allowing us to return to the Shalom al Israel synagogue and Tel Jericho (The remains of the city which Joshua conquered).
We started holding Sabbaths outside the Noam army camp, on the western edge of Jericho, near the ancient Naaran Synagogue. After a determined struggle, including an incident where Arab terrorists surrounded us with their weapons, we founded a farm north-west of Jericho, which eventually became Mevoot Yericho.
After we were expelled from Jericho we wandered around the area, until the then District Commander let us settle in the Elisha camp, on the western side of Highway 90. We stayed there for seven months.
In the end, we were also expelled from the Elisha camp, because the IDF planned to give it away to the Arabs. In compensation, the then District Commander agreed for us to settle in Beit Hogla, on the south-east corner of Jericho, in the heart of the Biblical Gilgal (in the Plains of Jericho), and directly across the Jordan from Mt Nebo (where Moses spoke his last). Beit Hogla is indeed located where the People of Israel signed the covenant with G-d – by being circumcised – after they crossed the Jordan under the leadership of Joshua.
There, with the whole family and the children’s friends, we built houses, and organised a multitude of activities, Torah classes, and prayers. We managed to have water and electricity, and planted trees to make the desert bloom – a real miracle.
Today (in the year 2022), Beit Hogla is a blossoming agricultural farm, has a captivating Visitor Centre and Observation Platform - a starting point for tours of Jericho and its environs, has accomodation for visitors and an events garden, a shop selling its locally-grown organic produce, and has become home to some 30 families.