Rosh Yeshivas Shvut Yisrael in Efrat was escorted off of Har Habayis on Sunday 13 Sivan because he closed his eyes.
In a Facebook post by Arnon Segal, he explains the visit began like any other to the holy site. He quotes Rabbi Shaul Yonatan Weingroth explaining four policemen accompanied them during their visit along with four Waqf officials to make sure the group does not dare to daven in violation of regulations on the holy site.
The rabbi explains that at one point they sat in the eastern area of Har Habayis, adding “I must of nodded off” which led to a policeman approaching him to explain he must leave immediately. The fear was that closing one’s eyes may signal one is davening, which is prohibited for non-Muslims.
The rabbi explains the policeman was certain he davened because his eyes were closed while his head moved. Any attempt to explain he nodded off was futile.
Gedolei HaPoskim throughout the ages including Gedolei Hador Shlita today have ruled it is absolutely forbidden to visit Har Habayis, even if one does so in line with Halacha including tevila. This is also the ruling of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. This is an Issur Kares.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
5 Responses
he was actually closing his eyes because of the arab prutzos…..
What a shame and a disgrace. Any Jew who is willing to go along with the humiliation and degradation of Am Yisrael and with the show of the “supremacy” or Islam or an yother religion and/or ideology over the Torah and Am Yisrael, stands for the biggest and truest Hillul Hashem their can be. That is the essence of Hillul Hashem while when the True Religion/Ideology known as the Torah and His nation is supreme that is the true Kiddush Hashem.
I believe he was davening.
Either way why is TYW posting such articles?
My heart bleeds purple borsht for him. He shouldn’t have been up there anyway!!
First of all YWN you misrepresented information. It is NOT issur Kareis if one goes up on Har habayis in the established mekomos mutarim.
despite the machlokes wether the halachOS of kedushas hamakom apply during a time of desolation at the mekomos of kehuna.
At best those holy pilgrims and pioneers that go up in a state of and for the sake of sanctity could be rewarded for performing the mitzva of moreh mikdash. In a process of reversing and tipping the process from utter desolation neglect abandonment and abuse to a process of responsibility sanctity sovereignty and accountability.
and importantly not all major poskim disenfranchised themselves from the accountability of Har habayis in sefer charedim the Rambam is quoted of his ascent to Har habayis and having davened there… as historically validated that Jews for over 1750 years did before the exiled and estranged Jews from Europe began the trek towards the holy Land.
Thanks YWN for posting my comment