With a major effort for a mass Har HaBayis visit underway, Chief Rabbi Moshe Shlomo Amar Shlita and Rabbi Yona Yechiel Metzger Shlita have once again announced the p’sak that one is not permitted to go onto Har HaBayis. Also affixing their names to the most recent ban are HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Bakshi Doron Shlita, HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita (Yeshivat Porat Yosef, Old City), HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl Shlita and Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita.

The kol korei addresses recent and increasing efforts “by organizations” to gain support for Har HaBayis visits, citing the prohibitions involved. The rabbonim remind the public that there is nothing that has changed that would permit visiting Har HaBayis today, urging people to refrain from such actions in the hope of meriting the Geula Shleima.

This was the position of former chief rabbis as well, including Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, HaGaon HaRav Avraham Kahana Shapiro ZT”L and HaGaon HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu ZT”L. There was a famous p’sak released in 5764 reminding the tzibur at large of the prohibition, citing ‘nothing has changed’ and visiting the Temple Mount is still prohibited. The three rabbonim signed that p’sak in addition to Rabbi Shlomo Aviner.

And there is of course the piskei Halacha of gedolei yisrael, Maranan V’Rabbanan Shlita.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)