The caption reads: “Our Qur'an was right and your Talmud lied”
Posted on 09/15/2005 4:03:51 PM PDT by SJackson
News from Palestinian sources protest Jews taking up residence near the Al-Aksa Mosque. Not a new story. Only weeks go, media expert Michael Widlanski reported that Voice of Palestine radio broke into its regular programming to announce that Israeli troops and Jewish extremists were invading Islamic holy places on the Temple Mount.
Following that, came a report that Jordan's Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Marouf Bakhit, had rushed to declare to officials at the Israeli Foreign Ministry that his country was outraged over the "provocative act" of a group of Jews who had the insolence to visit the Temple Mount in commemoration of Jerusalem Day. The official Jordanian news agency declared this "a provocative act that could stir up confrontation and evoke outrage of Muslims around the world."
It has been well documented that in September 2000 the Palestinian Authority used Ariel Sharon's visit to the Mount as a pretense for starting the Intifada they already had planned. This current incitement is bad news. Seems they're revving up the crowds again.
It is time, I suggest, for us to start thinking seriously about the Temple Mount and our relationship to it as Jews. This is not an issue simply for those advocating building of a Third Temple on the Mount. I advocate nothing of the sort; yet, I see that it affects us all.
It is, after all, the Temple Mount and not the Kotel (Western Wall) that is Judaism's holiest site. The Kotel is a retaining wall that helped to shore up the Mount on which the Temple stood, and so reflects the holiness of the place. But it is the Mount that is not only the site of the two Temples, but traditionally the site of many other momentous events in our history as well. It is identified as Mt. Moriyah, where the akeida (the sacrifice of Isaac) took place.
I am well aware that many think that this is "simply" ancient history and of no particular relevance to modern sensibilities. But this is not so. There is, first, the centrality of this place to our heritage. A people with pride does not lightly dismiss this. And then there is the sanctity that adheres: this is where the Holy of Holies stood, the sacred space the High Priest entered once a year. This is the place where the Jewish people communed with the Sh'khinah - the presence of the Almighty. The sanctity adheres.
About 1,300 years ago, the Muslims - for whom this is sacred territory with regard to Muhammad, said to have ascended to heaven from a rock on the Mount - built the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aksa Mosque nearby on the Mount. These were built on top of the remains of the Temple within the Mount. There is a great deal there, within; a labyrinth of tunnels and archeological remains. Excavations have never been permitted by the rabbis because of the sanctity of the place.
From 1948-1967, when Jordan was in control of the Old City of Jerusalem, no Jews were permitted there. Not at the Kotel, not anywhere in the vicinity.
When we retook the Old City in 1967, the Kotel and the Mount came into our possession. "Har HaBayit b'yadenu!" (the Temple Mount is in our hands.) went the joyous cry. There was singing at the site then, and praying and blowing of the shofar.
After that momentous capture, however, Moshe Dayan in what was presumed to be an act of tolerant wisdom and generosity - but which I perceive to have been an act of colossal stupidity - took down the Israeli flag from the Mount and called in Muslim religious leaders from the Islamic Trust (Wakf). Israel will retain over-all control, he told them, but he was turning over to them everyday control of the Mount, where they had holy structures. With that act, he took a large step towards surrender of the Mount - our Mount.
The Muslims are not interested in sharing. They are not interested in the kindness of our gestures. They are into taking control and banishing us. They perceive conciliation as weakness.
In recent years, there has been a series of decisions made by Israeli authorities that for me smack of appeasement, backing down that suggests we have no legitimate claim to be on the Mount. A mistake. Sometimes, no Jews are allowed up there at all. When Jews are allowed, they may not pray and must go only in controlled numbers. The point is not to "agitate the Muslim street." But they agitate anyway, and accuse us even of what we do not do.
It is time we maintained our legitimate presence on the Mount, and our right in principle to be there. Education must be done widely and forcefully, so that people understand precisely what this place is for us. It must be clear to all the world that this is not simply a "Muslim" place and that it matters to us, as well.
We in Israel are engaged in a battle for our survival. Let no one imagine that anything else is going on. The Palestinians, sly and crafty, are waging a "people's war", which means it is not waged just with violence, but also with lies and propaganda. One of the weapons they have been using is the fabrication that we do not have a legitimate history in this land, but that they do. We are merely colonial interlopers, occupiers. People believe it.
At the heart of this war is the Temple Mount, for that Mount is both the symbol and the concrete evidence of our ancient presence here. I cannot emphasize this sufficiently. If the Palestinians can convince the world that we did not have a presence on the Mount, then they will have robbed us of our oldest and deepest link to this land and our most solemn claim to it now. If we participate in this theft, by relinquishing what is ours through appeasement, apathy and foolishness, we will have done ourselves enormous harm.
Yasser Arafat told an astonished Bill Clinton that there were never Temples on the Mount. (I have no information on how Clinton responded.) Now Arafat's protege, Mahmoud Abbas, is on record with the same sort of statement. He also consistently calls for us to move back to the pre-'67 lines, which means relinquishing the Mount and the Kotel. There have been very extensive Muslim excavations within the Temple Mount, where they have constructed an interior mosque in an area called Solomon's Stables. In the course of this work, they dumped tons of rubble in a garbage heap; it included priceless archeological artifacts from Temple days. The objective was clearly to destroy the evidence of our having been there. Luckily, a private archeological venture by Israelis was begun that is sifting through the rubble and recovering the evidence
The Muslim intent and absolute lack of respect are clear.
Strength is required of us before it is too late.
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Outraged, you say. Any claim on the Holy City by Islam is pure lie. Beat it...scram!
Go to Gaza and get a job in public administration. I hear there are openings for good leaders.
No such holy places exist. Now, if the Muslims would like some holey places I'm sure the IDF would be only too happy to oblige.
The official Jordanian news agency declared this "a provocative act that could stir up confrontation and evoke outrage of Muslims around the world."
Find me something that doesn't "evoke the outrage of Muslims" and that would be news.
How many posts before this thread is theologically hijacked?
I went into the Al Aqsa mosque in 1989. It was interesting to see some hand grenades in a clear container inside the mosque area.
And this is not even a Muslim holy area.
Made it to 6.
Muslims are the latecomers in the Holy Land and in the Holy City. They are akin to the Roman Empire that decided to break the Jewish resistance by destroying the Temple. But the rabbis soon declared that "service of the heart" was and continues to be a wholly adequate substitute for Temple worship, until such time as the Temple will be rebuilt. Muslims are the ones who invaded the Temple area in a attempt to impose what they perceive to be the final, most authentic, "most perfect" revelation. It is so "holy" to them, in fact, that all who refuse to accept Islam are infidels, and even those who do "embrace" Islam (it is, after all, such a loving, caring religion, isn't it?) are to be viewed with suspicion. So much for their universal, all-loving "God."
They do. And the West? We perceive conciliation as kindness. We give encouragement to terrorism when we play nice with these lunatics.
It is, indeed, clear. Only a fool could mistake their intent.
The article does refer to religious/theological concepts.
Hey...it's only been a little over 13 centuries. What's the rush?
As dreadful as the Palestinians' actions under the Temple Mount are, and they are just about indescribable -- thank God Israeli archaeologists are saving what they can. Israelis mustn't lose faith. That's the most important strength they have. The Palestinians have won nothing.
Great link here to what it looked like
I love my Jewish friends, for they are my brothers and sisters. God said He would bless those who blessed them, and curse those who cursed them. God changed my heart, and my loves the people of Israel.
The Messiah (to me, and millions who believe it also) foretold the destruction of 2nd Temple.
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Matthew 24:2
In 70 AD, that happened. The Roman army destroyed it.
I have heard that the Romans used fire and water to turn the limestone of the Temple to literally explode like a bomb. I would appreciate if someone who has some insight in this to give me their opinion.
I agree totally with this author's premise and his content.
It breaks my heart to see the Jewish people cut off from the Temple, while Muslims defile it. But, we take hope from God. He knows. He created this world by speaking according to the book of Genesis. Now, THAT is power. There is a latin word for it, but it escapes me....
The Dome of the Crock.
I hope in my lifetime I get to see at least one western society vilify & outlaw the cult of islam. I had hoped the first to do so would be Israel, but the appeasers seem to be in control.
Don't try to reason with a rabid dog - kill it, quick.
"No such holy places exist. Now, if the Muslims would like some holey places I'm sure the IDF would be only too happy to oblige."
I have said it before and I will continue to say it: That thing built on the Temple Mount is an abomination. I pray that I am dead before this happens but I believe that said abomination will eventually be bulldozed into the Jordan River to make room for the new Temple.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
