For the first time in over a decade uniformed IDF soldiers are once again permitted to visit Har HaBayis. Such a visit was conducted this week, including ten paratroopers, coordinated by Israel Police’s commander of holy sites, Avi Biton, who escorted the soldiers during the one-hour visit.
In the PA (Palestinian Authority) media, the event was reported as being “very suspicious”, hinting at something more than it appeared on the surface.
The Temple Mount was closed to Jews in 2000 as a result of the riots. It was reopened about three years later, but with new regulations, including the ban on soldiers in uniform, seeking to limit ‘provocation’.
The daily Yisrael HaYom reports that ongoing pressure by Temple Mount activists and right-wing members of Knesset have persuaded Jerusalem police officials to rescind the ban on uniformed soldiers visiting Har HaBayis.
Yehuda Glick, who heads the Temple Mount Heritage Authority, praised the decision, adding it is now apparent that the ongoing pressure did what it was intended to do. He stressed that we must realize “this is the place that is holy to the Jewish People, not the Kosel”.
Glick was pleased with the changes over the past year, which he stated include visits to the Mount by women, chareidim, and now uniformed IDF soldiers. He hopes that soldiers will be compelled to visit Har HaBayis as part of the military’s educational and cultural programs, as is the case with the Kosel and other holy sites.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Did they arrange for a Kohen to sprinkle them with ashes from the red cow???????????
akuperma,
No need for your constant sarcasm. As you no doubt now, according to many rabbanim, it is permissible to go to parts of Har Habyit with the proper preparation.
If the soldiers are frum, we can assume that they ascended to Har Habyit in the proper way.
#2- The article said “military’s educational and cultural programs” – meaning it is not very likely the soldiers will follow even the questionable heter for entering the Har ha-Bayis,and also that it is clearly not a case of Pikuach Nefesh which was the basis of R. Goren’s heterim.
Except for a few centuries, Jews have lived in Jerusalem continuously since the Beis ha-Mikdash was destoyed, and it seems no one knew about these heterim until the late 20th century.
@akuperma:
It is said that the Ramban went up to Har Habayis and many other rabbis, the gemarra tells of Rabbis going up to Har Habayis.
Har Habayis as we know it is a lot larger than the original (thanks to Herod), and there are areas that most poskim consider permissable to enter.
HOWEVER in 1967 when Jerusalem was freed entering Har Habayis was banned by the Rabbis accross the board of that time, and until today the majority of Rabbis hold of this ban. This ban is new, and valid, but there are other Rabbis who permit going up with the right preparations…
Though I also fear that the proper precautions may not be taken by the groups going up (which is the main reason for most rabbis banning going up in general), I also hope that the IDF rabinate actually takes it’s responsibility there.