[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
Many Jews have been visiting Har Habayis during the Nine Days. On Monday, 8 Menachem Av 5773, erev Tisha B’Av, hundreds of Jews visited the site.
Among the visitors was Manhigut Yehudit faction member Michael Fua, who succeeded in videoing the Arab violence, the standard Muslim opposition to the presence of Jews on Har Habayis.
As the Islamic shouts and opposition to the Jewish presence increased, Israel Police compelled the Jews to leave the holy site.
It must be noted that according to the Poskei Hador one is absolutely forbidden to visit the Temple Mount, and there is an Issur Kares for one that goes there.
Four years ago on Sukkos, Israeli President Shimon Peres paid a visit to the Sukkah of Maran Hagon Rav Elyashiv ZATZAL, where Rav Elyashiv called on the President to prevent Jews from visiting Har HaBayis, stating it is an act that that is viewed as extremely provocative by the goyim. Maran stated everything possible must be done to avoid a religious war, and the provocateurs are playing with fire.
Maran is quoted as explaining to the president that Halacha forbids going onto Har HaBayis but today, it is more than this, it is an act that may lead to a religious war and bloodshed.
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(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
This is one of those rare circumstances where the positions of the frum and secular converge. If gadolei hador say its an issur kares and the police chief says it could trigger bloodshed, than there is zero reason why the police should tolerate the crazies who want to go up to har habayis. Let them live out their moishiach fantasies in some safer mode where lives are not put at risk by their fanaticism.
Good. They don’t belong there.
In the spirit of the day, I am happy to agree with you for the first time, Gadolhadorah. May there be many more.
Although I know it’s easy to jump to a black & white conclusion based on what you’ve heard, but I attended numerous shiurim over the last several weeks regarding Har Habayis, including from Chareidi rabbonim. The issur mentioned was referred to as a “Policy” psak, not as much a halachic one. There are hundreds of rabbonim here in Eretz Yisroel who support going up to har habayis (assuming the proper preparations are made and that you only go with a guide who takes you to areas which are “safe” l’chol hadayos). To just say “assur” is easy. The fact is, the Rambam went up there, and established a family Yom Tov for the future on the date of his ascent. And he knew a thing or two about halacha. After hearing the opinions, I went up several days ago. The police only allowed us a few minutes, but we were in the company of many different frum groups, including a large and prominent Chassidishe family.
My point? Don’t be so quick to assume all you’ve heard is all there is to hear. There are differing opinions, and a lot more to the story than most of us grew up hearing. You don’t have to be a “crazy” to want to get a better picture of what we’re missing without the Bais Hamikdash nowadays.