Israel Police reports that there were a total of 842 visitors to Har Habayis on Monday, the second day of Chol Hamoed Pesach. This number includes 638 tourists.
During the afternoon visiting hours one Jewish male was detained for violating visitation regulations. A total of three Jewish visitors were taken off the holy site by police and detained during the day.
It must be noted: According to the Poskei Hador one is absolutely forbidden to visit Har Habayis, and there is an Isur Karess for one that goes there.
A number of years ago on Sukkos, President Shimon Peres paid a visit to the Sukkah of Maran HaGaon 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.
This is and remains the view of poskei hador. This is also the view of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Among the rabbonim who share this view are HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Halevy Wosner ZATZAL, HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein Shlita, Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita, Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L, Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ZT”L and many others.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
YWN –
Thank you for repeatedly devoting space to the halachic dangers of going on Har HaBayis. Some frum people, whether motivated by spirituality-seeking or just by a desire to have “been there, done that,” are committing an aveira far worse (as it involves kareis) than what the Women of the Wall are doing. The Yetzer Hara can dress very ferfrumpt, as well!
YWN should be making far more Noise against these reshoim who visit Har Habayis and besides for being chayav kares are putting all Jews worldwide into danger! Instead of quoting these pointless figures which could fuel them to keep visiting, rather don’t give them any police security when they visit. See how quick the fools stop going there……