Thousands of mispallelim entered Kever Yosef in Shechem overnight Wednesday for a special tefillah ahead of Rosh Hashanah, as the days of Elul and the approaching Yamim Noraim draw Jews to increased tefillah and teshuvah.

The large-scale entry was organized by the Shomron Regional Council with assistance from volunteers of the Kever Yosef and Holy Sites Administration. The visit took place under heavy security and was coordinated with Israeli security forces.

Footage from the overnight gathering showed large crowds filling the Kever Yosef compound as mispallelim gathered at the holy site for tefillah.

A large group of women from communities in the Shomron also participated in the visit and held a special tefillah ahead of the new year.

The visit comes during a year that has seen increased access to Kever Yosef. In January, hundreds were permitted to remain at the site for Shacharis in daylight for the first time in approximately 25 years. Previously, organized visits had generally required worshippers to leave the compound before morning.

Thousands again visited the site earlier this month, demonstrating the continued demand among Jews to daven at the kever traditionally identified as the burial place of Yosef HaTzaddik.

Wednesday night's gathering, however, carried particular significance because of its timing ahead of Rosh Hashanah and during the days leading toward the Yamim Noraim.