Jerusalem Sephardi Chief Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Mosher Amar Shlita spoke with Kol Chai Radio host Mordechai Lavi after MK Yehuda Glick, who addressed the kedusha status of the Kosel.
Kol Chai
Is it correct to say the Kosel is just a supporting wall of the Beis HaMikdash?
Rav Amar
There is a machlokes among poskim throughout generations if a part of Azarah or actually Har Habayis. According to the Radbaz it is a wall of the Azarah, which means it is actually a component of the Mikdosh and has its own inherent kedusha. Rav Moshe in his writings and many others agree. It is known the Brisker Rov would not come near the Kosel area and anyone who truly understands is able to understand these views.
In the Six Day War HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L solved the issue in his brilliant way, calling on Waqf officials to measure from ‘Even Shesiya’. The matter is complex and with all due respect to the previous speaker [Har Habayis activist MK Yehuda Glick], the matter is not that simple. According to the measurements and the poskim, primarily the Rambam, we learn the status of the area.
Kol Chai
Some feel the Kosel causes people to be less aware and concerned of Har Habayis. Is this so?
Rav Amar
You put it well. Those who visit Har Habayis take their soul in their hands for one cannot know with absolute certainty as some believe. This is not an issue between chareidim and dati leumi – but a matter of halacha and understanding the severity of karess. Both Rav Kook and his son Rav Tzvi Yehuda prohibited visiting Har Habayis. This has nothing to do with chareidi and dati leumi.
The fact that Am Yisrael have davened and poured their hearts out at the Kosel adds kedusha to the location as well. This is not a matter of hashkafa, not one of emotion but a simple matter of halacha.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Vus is the chidush?? His comments only reinforce the long-standing view of gadoylei hador who have said that we don’t have the ability to be certain as to exactly where the physical walls of the beis hamikdash were located so therefore we assume the entire area is makom kodosh and anyone trespassing upon this area is risking his/her neshama. Glick’s mindless efforts go beyond risking his own life since he triggers attacks on other Isrealis and the security forces so he is an indirect contributor to spilling yiddeshe blood.
It’s not simply that “we don’t have the ability to be certain. . . ” As the Rav said, it is a machlokes which wall the kosel actually is.