Mount Gerizim and the Samaritan Sect
Jabal al-Tor is located south of Nablus at an altitude of 881 meters. This sloping limestone mountain is covered with olive trees and was named Gerizim, meaning the statutes on which the laws are held. It is one of the most important mountains in Nablus due to its natural resources, especially the water sources from springs on the northern slopes. The mountain also includes several significant archaeological sites and buildings.
The most notable of these is the remains of a large archaeological site built on its summit during the Hellenistic period in the second century BC. The Temple of Jupiter was constructed at the top of Tel Al-Ras during the Roman period. During the Byzantine period, several structures were built, including the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Monastery of Bir Al-Hamam, and the shrine of Sheikh Ghanem, dating back to the Mamluk period. There are also many ruins, such as Khirbet Al-Qasr and Khirbet Al-Nabi Ismail.
The Samaritan sect resides at the top of the mountain, where they built their temple around 332 BC. Archaeological excavations have revealed remains related to the Temple of Zeus from the Hadrian era, underscoring the mountain's importance to this sect. The Samaritans, the smallest continuous religious group in the world, consider Mount Gerizim their sacred center. There are fewer than 900 Samaritans, with half living in the area occupied by Israel since 1948 and the other half in a city they established atop Mount Gerizim. They speak both Arabic and Hebrew and are integrated into the social fabric of Nablus.
The Samaritan faith is based on the Law of Moses, particularly the first five books of the Torah. They view themselves as the true keepers of the law, adhering to beliefs that diverge significantly from Jewish traditions. Central to their faith is the sanctity and centrality of Mount Gerizim, which they consider their holy site and the focus of their religious rituals. They dedicate Saturdays to religious observance, abstaining from daily activities. A qualified priest performs the ritual slaughter of animals whose meat is permissible to eat.
The Samaritans are committed to their religious holidays according to the Hebrew-Samaritan calendar, which includes seven major holidays, the most important of which are Passover and Throne Day. They also believe that the site where the prophet Isaac was to be sacrificed by his father, Abraham, is a rock on Mount Gerizim, and that the temple established by Joshua bin Nun was built on this mountain.