Elazar Ben Tzadka, the Shomron/Samaritan "Cohen Gadol" [high priest], died yesterday (Wednesday) at his home on Har Greizim -- he was 83.His funeral will take place this afternoon at the Samaritan cemetery on Har Greizim.
Tzadka was born in Shechem in 1927 and served as the Samaritan Cohen Gadol for the past 6 years.
Attending his funeral will be the Samaritan community from Har Greizim, and its Israeli sister community from Holon, as well as leaders from the Israeli and Palestinian Authority political systems.
The Har Greizim Samaritan community suffers from a twilight zone reality, as they are not part of the Jewish people -- and they are under the administrative control of the Palestinian Authority. Their children speak Arabic, attend Palestinian schools in nearby Shechem, yet Palestinians routinely harass them -- and have even stolen their ancient Samaritan Torah scrolls. The scrolls are currently held for a ransom of millions of dollars, which the community cannot afford. The Israeli community of Samaritans in Holon are full fledged Israeli citizens, and serve in the IDF.
According to Tzadka's brother Benny, the replacement Cohen Gadol will be, Aharon Ben Av-Chisda.
You can read more about the Samaritans in previous Muqata posts:
Chol Hamoed Sukkot on Har Greizim (and video)
A Samaritan Sukkot
Deciphering Samaritan
Thoughts on the Shomronim
hat-tip: Jameela / ynet
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