URA ITURRALDE

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uraiturralde.net

THE LAST SAMARITANS

The Samaritans are a religious and ethnic group who are considered to be descendents of the twelve tribes from Israel. The Samaritans' current population is 750 (the majority of whom are men), separated by its sacred Mount Gerizim near to the city of Nablus, Palestine and Holon near to Tel Aviv. During the course of history, there have been many reasons why the Samaritan community has continued to reduce to such a degree that at the start of the 20th century they were on the edge of extinction. They are currently fighting for survival and to maintain their old traditions. A clear example of this is the celebration of Yom Kippur where all the community meet at the foothills of the sacred Mount Gerizim to pray at the sinagogue including 24 hours of prayers, fasting and a ban on the use of modern technology. The men pray and the women help. This celebration, known as the day of pardon and repentance, starts at 7 pm and concludes at 7 pm the following day. After finishing the day and returning to daily life, the Samaritans adorn their houses with a type of cottage decorated with fruit and multi-coloured lights. It is called Sucá.

One of the Samaritan priests w...gogue to pray. Yom Kippur day.

One of the Samaritan priests waiting at his house. In a few minutes he will go to the synagogue to pray. Yom Kippur day.

Mount Gerizim, is one of the t... the mountain ridge.

Mount Gerizim, is one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of the West Bank city of Nablus. The mountain is sacred to the Samaritans who regard it, rather than Jerusalem's Temple Mount, as having been the location chosen by God for a holy temple. A Samaritan village, Kiryat Luza, and an Israeli settlement, Har Brakha, are situated on the mountain ridge.