Yoseph ben Ab-Hisda ben Yaacov ben Aaharon
Encyclopedia
Yoseph ben Ab-Hisda ben Yaacov ben Aaharon; (1919–February 14, 1998), served as the Samaritan High Priest
from January 26, 1987 until his death. Prior to inheriting the post of high priest, he worked as a religious teacher and was principal of the Samaritan
school. A noted author and scribe like many of his kinsmen, his houses in Nablus
and on Mount Gerizim
were open to visitors from all over the world who sought to understand the Samaritan teachings. As high priest, he sought to follow a policy of non-active involvement—maintaining peaceful relations as far as possible with all factions in the political conflicts of the region. He lived in Nablus
in the West Bank
and is buried in the cemetery of Kiryat Luza
on Mount Gerizim
. His brothers Aaharon and Yephet survived him, as did his wife, his four children, and seven grandchildren. Both Palestinian and Israeli dignitaries were present at his funeral. He was succeeded as high priest by his second cousin Levi ben Abisha ben Phinhas ben Yitzhaq
.
Samaritan High Priest
The Samaritan High Priest is the high priest of the Samaritan community in the Middle East.According to Samaritan tradition, the office has existed continuously since Aaron, the brother of Moses, and has been held by 132 people...
from January 26, 1987 until his death. Prior to inheriting the post of high priest, he worked as a religious teacher and was principal of the Samaritan
Samaritan
The Samaritans are an ethnoreligious group of the Levant. Religiously, they are the adherents to Samaritanism, an Abrahamic religion closely related to Judaism...
school. A noted author and scribe like many of his kinsmen, his houses in Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
and on Mount Gerizim
Mount Gerizim
Mount Gerizim is one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of the West Bank city of Nablus , and forms the southern side of the valley in which Nablus is situated,...
were open to visitors from all over the world who sought to understand the Samaritan teachings. As high priest, he sought to follow a policy of non-active involvement—maintaining peaceful relations as far as possible with all factions in the political conflicts of the region. He lived in Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and is buried in the cemetery of Kiryat Luza
Kiryat Luza
Kiryat Luza is a Samaritan village on Mount Gerizim near Nablus, West Bank. It is the last wholly Samaritan village in existence and contains the museum of the Samaritans. Kiryat Luza is adjacent to the Israeli settlement of Har Bracha. Until the 1980s, most of the Samaritans resided in Nablus...
on Mount Gerizim
Mount Gerizim
Mount Gerizim is one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of the West Bank city of Nablus , and forms the southern side of the valley in which Nablus is situated,...
. His brothers Aaharon and Yephet survived him, as did his wife, his four children, and seven grandchildren. Both Palestinian and Israeli dignitaries were present at his funeral. He was succeeded as high priest by his second cousin Levi ben Abisha ben Phinhas ben Yitzhaq
Levi ben Abisha ben Phinhas ben Yitzhaq
Levi ben Abisha ben Phinhas ben Yitzhaq; , served as the Samaritan High Priest from 1998 until his death. In his secular work prior to his retirement, he was chief clerk in the Nablus bus company. Before and after his retirement from secular work he was a genial and well-known teacher. He was...
.
Sources
- The New York Times, February 14, 1998, "Joseph Cohen, Samaritan High Priest, 79"
- A. B., The Samaritan News