Ziyara (Druze)

Ziyara (زِيَارَة) is the Druze pilgrimage observed annually between 25 and 28 April at the Shrine of Shu'ayb, the shrine which Druzians believe contains the purported tomb of prophet Shu'ayb. It is officially recognized as a public holiday in Israel.

Holiday


The Druze generally only celebrate one holiday, Eid al-Adha. The Druze community in Israel under the leadership of Sheikh Amin Tarif, however, has endowed this period with a special status, deeming the ziyara a festive day by law. Workers are allowed to take a break from work without infringing their workers' rights. Schools operating under the Druze education system are closed for the period, while Druze soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces are also given the period as a vacation. The whole community, not just religious Druze in Israel, celebrates this Ziyara.

Observation
The celebration starts on 25 April and concludes on 28 April, with many religious leaders from all the religions in Israel, and also political leaders (occasionally also the PM), coming to congratulate the Israeli Druze community during their festivities at the Maqam al-Nabi Shu'ayb. Religious leaders or sheikhs from Mount Carmel, the Galilee and the Golan Heights take the opportunity to discuss religious issues.

Visits of Druze from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan during Ziyaras

 * Since 1968, Druze from the Golan Heights can freely visit the shrine and they are also involved in the feast.
 * Other Syrian Druze outside the Golan never used to be involved at the celebrations.
 * Lebanese Druze rarely visited the shrine, but in 1982 a group from Lebanon, during the Israeli occupation of the south, answered the call of Sheikh Amin Tarif to visit.
 * Following the Israel–Jordan peace treaty in 1994, Jordanian Druze are permitted to visit the shrine throughout the year, and their visits are not restricted to the festive period.