[Ronaldus Magnus]

The IDF permitted hundreds of Jewish worshippers access to Joseph's Tomb in Nablus to pray at the shrine early Thursday.

Please pardon my ignorance, but I have a few basic questions about this situation I hope someone can answer:

Which Joseph is this?

Why are Jewish worshippers praying at a tomb?

Are these worshippers of a particular sect?

I could understand if these were Catholics but don't know enough about Judaism to understand their motivation. I had been under the impression that many Jews didn't believe in an afterlife.

[anotherview]

Joseph as in the coat of many colors. The son of Jacob who was sold into slavery in Egypt.

[Is2C]

Please pardon my ignorance, but I have a few basic questions about this situation I hope someone can answer:

Which Joseph is this?

Joseph son of Jacob who was the son of Issac.

Why are Jewish worshippers praying at a tomb?

Are these worshippers of a particular sect?

I could understand if these were Catholics but don't know enough about Judaism to understand their motivation. I had been under the impression that many Jews didn't believe in an afterlife.

I am assuming that it has to do with paying homage (sp?) and respect and showing an appreciation of their history.

[DonQ]

This is the Joseph son of Jacob, famous for his Technicolor dream coat. His brothers sold him into slavery, he was taken to Egypt, and after several years became an important official, having saved the Egyptian empire from a famine. He died in Egypt and was embalmed or mummified, but had left a request to his family that he be buried in the Holy Land. Centuries later, Moses and the liberated Hebrews carried his bones with them in the Exodus, and Joseph was buried in Schehem in a plot of land originally purchased by his father (Joshua 24:32)

[Alouette]

I had been under the impression that many Jews didn't believe in an afterlife.

Jews most certainly do believe in Olam Habah (the afterlife).