The program director of the Orthodox Union Israel Center Rabbi Sam Shor, and Shalom Lerner, the executive director of the International Committee for Har HaZeitim, announced this week a joint project encouraging the general public to tour Har HaZeitim (Mount of Olives).
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The program will feature periodic tours of the ancient burial ground, with each emphasizing a different theme or period of time in Jewish history and honoring the more than 158,000 Jews for whom the cemetery is their eternal resting place.
The initial pilot tour was a great success, according to Rabbi Shor, and was a special outing of OU Israel's The Bais-Men's Bet Midrash program with an emphasis on visiting and praying at some of the most revered rabbis' burial sites.
"We are very proud to be partnered with Shalom Lerner and the dedicated team at the International Committee for Har HaZeitim and be able to offer opportunities for Jews from across the world to connect to our roots and literally walk in the footsteps of generations of the Jewish people, to connect with our greatest rabbis, leaders, and heroes, and to encourage and support all those working to restore and maintain this sacred heritage site," Rabbi Sam Shor said. "This pilot trip will hopefully serve as a model of many subsequent group visits and form the basis for individuals to feel comfortable to visit as well."
Shalom Lerner made a point of underscoring that the foremost priority of the ICHH is that Jews should be able to visit, pray, and tour this holy site without fear.
"We are in constant contact with the police and government officials to ensure that the roads to the mountain and the mountain itself is secured at all times. We are putting special emphasis on bringing as many people as possible to the Mountain. In addition to the group tours, we will be facilitating visits for families and individuals. We are very grateful to Rabbi Shor and the OU Israel for partnering with us and together we will bring Har HaZeitim to the holy status it deserves," he said in a statement.
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