#shomronim

Samaritan High Priest ʿAmram Yitzḥaq Cohen (עַמְרָם יִצְחָק כֹּהֵן) (left) in Shechem שְׁכֶם, also known as Nablus نابلس, showcasing a Samaritan Torah scroll, Feb. 1963.

Brothers ʿAmram (right) and Tsedaka ben Yitzḥaq Cohen צְדָיָה בֶּן־יִצְחָק כֹּהֵן (left) (1894-1971, political leader of the Samaritans in Nablus / Shehem 1930-1970) in the 1960s. Photos from the archive of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), who funded the construction of a Samaritan school in the area.

"There were many years when Samaritans were prevented from living atop Mount Gerizim and or even performing the sacrifice there, he said.

Earlier in the last century, he said, the Samaritan high priest worked out a compromise with the Arabs in the area to allow them to ascend the mountain for the ceremony in exchange for two sheep.

Prior to the Six Day War, King Hussein of Jordan stopped that exchange and even sent a legion of Jordanian soldiers to protect the Samaritans so they could freely worship atop Mount Gerizim. It was only when Israel took over the West Bank after the Six Day War, that the Samaritans had free access to the mountain top, he said."