The Heritage & Preservation Fund for the Patriarchs and Tribal Sites
Beyond our work surrounding Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem, Return to Yosef has established a dedicated fund for the preservation, restoration, and protection of ancient Jewish heritage sites and the burial places of the Tribes in Judea and Samaria - foundational and sacred locations that form the bedrock of Jewish identity and history.
Among the sites we actively work to protect:
The Tombs of Elazar and Itamar, sons of Aaron the Priest, together with the Cave of the Seventy Elders, in the village of Awarta, south of Shechem; and the Tombs of Joshua son of Nun, Nun, and Caleb son of Jephunneh in the village of Kifl Hares, southwest of Shechem.
These holy sites are located inside Arab villages within Area B, and in practice suffer repeatedly from vandalism, arson, desecration, and deliberate damage. Because they are not situated within areas of full Israeli sovereignty, the State of Israel provides little to no direct assistance in their upkeep - creating a dangerous vacuum.
We step into that vacuum.
Return to Yosef teams regularly enter the field to inspect conditions, repair damage, repaint burned walls, restore vandalized headstones, and attempt to preserve a basic standard of dignity, cleanliness, and sanctity - difficult, sensitive, and complex work in the heart of the “gray zone” of Israel’s heritage.
This is a quiet but critical mission.
We also report every incident directly to senior rabbinic leadership and government ministers.
To continue and expand this work, we need partners, resources, and support - with the belief and hope that when Israel applies sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, these sacred heritage sites will finally receive the protection, funding, and status they deserve.
Until then - we are there.
Protecting the roots.
Strengthening identity.
Building the future.