Jerusalem Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar Shlita on Wednesday, 10 Av, released a letter emphasizing the prohibition of visiting Har Habayis. The letter was issued amid reports boasting that over 1200 Jews visited Har Habayis on Tisha B’Av.
In his letter, Rav Amar explains that some become so passionate in their love for Eretz Yisrael, their judgement is clouded and as a result, the isur which carries karess is transgressed. He warns that not only will visiting Har Habayis likely not help the situation, but it will worsen things. The rav expressed sorrow over the news of so many who visited during Tisha B’Av.
Regarding the Kosel, officials of the Kosel Heritage Foundation report an estimated 100,000 mispallalim arrived at the Kosel during Tisha B’Av.
Gedolei Yisrael over the generations and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel prohibit visiting Har Habayis, which they explain carries the punishment of karess.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
Nearly all the leading Rabbanim of Israel prohibit any and all entry to the Har HaBayis (Temple Mount). I have a copy of a Hodaah VeAzharah document they signed fifty years ago and reaffirmed with their signatures three years ago.
A much better way to anticipate the Geulah Shleimah is to visit one of the Web sites on Bais HaMikdash III. My work [based on RASHI on Sefer Yechezkel/Ezekiel, Chap. 40-43] can be seen at: http://crdesignable.com/our-special-mitzvah/
Yes, Avraham (commentator above) and writer of this article, there is most definitely a long history of Rabbonim having forbidden entry to Har HaBayis an a declaration from 50 years ago.
However, many Rabbonim today feel that now that there is greater knowledge as to where the Makomos ha’Assurim would be and the political situation — they feel — demands that Jews reinforce their claim to Har HaBayis and not be pressured to concede it to the Nations, the psak should be different.
Among the above are Rav Meir Mazuz of Bnei Brak (who is often quoted on Yeshiva World News!), Rav Yakov Meidan Rosh Yeshiva of Har Etzion, and Rav Dov Lior of Chevron. They are just as knowledgeable of the letter from 50 years ago as Avraham and Rav Amar are — and nevertheless believe that thepeople not only MAY go up to teh permitted areas of Har HaBayis, but MUST.
It’s ironic that the “official” yeshivish/charedi position here is to follow the Rabbanut, while the more common dati leumi/mo opinions on this issue seems to be to ignore the Rabbanut… just an observation. May Moshiach come soon!
Cute observation, Pinchas, full of innuendo.
In fact, there’s no stira at all.
The haredim are not following the Rabbanut, but the Rabbanut is following haredi psak on this matter because the Rabbanut has been largely hijacked by haredim.
Rav Lau got his job by promising to follow haredi psak on Har HaBayis, Rav Yosef is the son of Rav Ovadia, and Rav Amar got HIS job through Shas patronage, like Rav Lau, promising to follow Rav Ovadia’s psakim on matters that are important to the Yosef family, like Har HaBayis.
The Dati Leumi Rabbonim, however, feel free to examine halachic issues on their merits, not as payback for political patronage.
All one has to do is to ask these same Rabbis who prohibit going up to Har habayit how will we build the Mikdash. Depending on the answer will determine whether it is permitted or prohibited to go up. Hint: this is not a Halachik issue but rather Hashkafah. I will quote the Shlah Hakodesh who undoubtedly was greater than any godol quoted by this publication: דע כי מעולם לא היה ספק במקום בית המקדש….ולא היה נתעלם מעין אפילו רגע אחד….לא נפסקה הקבלה והידיעה. (igrot baal hashlah page 241)