Har Bracha: Overlooking Shechem

Har Bracha (“Mountain of Blessing”) is a community on the slopes of Mount Gerizim, overlooking the city of Shechem (Nablus) and the valley where Abraham first entered the Land of Canaan. Founded in 1983, the community sits at an elevation of about 880 meters, perched on the southern slope of Gerizim with a commanding view of the entire Shechem valley below. The name Har Bracha comes directly from the biblical role of Mount Gerizim as the mountain of blessing in the ceremony described in Deuteronomy.

The View from Har Bracha

The panorama from Har Bracha is one of the most dramatic in biblical Israel. Looking north, the entire Shechem valley stretches out below, with the ancient tel of Shechem (Tel Balata) visible at the base of the mountain. Directly across the valley, Mount Ebal rises opposite, completing the natural amphitheater that the biblical text describes. On a clear day, the view extends across much of the Samarian highlands, giving visitors a sense of the geography that shaped so many biblical narratives. Few places in Israel allow you to see the landscape of Scripture laid out so completely before you.

The Blessing and Curse Ceremony

According to Deuteronomy 27:11-13, Moses commanded the Israelites to perform a ceremony upon entering the Promised Land. Six tribes (Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin) were to stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce blessings, while the other six (Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali) stood on Mount Ebal for the curses. Joshua carried out this ceremony after the conquest of Ai (Joshua 8:30-35), reading the words of the Torah to all the assembled people standing on the slopes of both mountains, with the Ark of the Covenant and the Levites in the valley between. Standing at Har Bracha and looking across at Ebal, the geography of that ancient ceremony becomes vivid and real.

The Samaritan Community Nearby

Just a short distance away on the summit of Mount Gerizim, a living Samaritan community maintains traditions that they trace back to the time of Moses and Joshua. The Samaritans regard Mount Gerizim as the holiest place on earth and continue to perform the Passover sacrifice on the mountain each spring. Their sacred precinct on the summit contains archaeological remains spanning many centuries and remains a place of active worship to this day.

Wine and Agriculture

Har Bracha has become known for its winery, which produces wines from grapes grown on the ancient terraces of Mount Gerizim. The Har Bracha winery has won awards in Israeli wine competitions, and the combination of high altitude, rocky soil, and Mediterranean climate produces distinctive wines. The community also produces olive oil and operates a date plantation, continuing agricultural traditions that date back to the biblical period.

Visit with Hoshen Tours

Har Bracha overlooks ancient Shechem and the entire Samarian landscape. Hoshen Tours pairs it with Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, the first stop of Abraham at Alon Moreh, the meeting of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well, and the patriarchal site of Beit El.