So wait...Rabbis are discriminating against Jews...? Oh now this makes sense...
Posted on 01/17/2005 8:50:26 PM PST by SmithL
Chief rabbis Yonah Metzger and Shlomo Moshe Amar, and a number of important rabbinical figures associated with the national religious world, have issued a halakhic ruling reiterating that it is forbidden for Jews to enter any part of the Temple Mount in our times. A similar halakhic ruling was issued a few months after the Six-Day War in 1967.
The current ruling was signed also by former chief rabbis Ovadia Yosef, Avraham Shapira, Eliahu Bakshi-Doron, the rabbi of the Western Wall, and heads of well-known national religious-oriented yeshivas.
It is seen as a blow to the members of the Temple Mount movements who have been trying for years to get a wider circle of rabbis to endorse the present-day entry of Jews to the holy site.
The ruling points out that Jews must avoid the entire site of the Temple Mount.
"Over the years," the rabbis state, "we have lost the exact location of the Temple, and anyone entering the Mount could unwittingly enter the area of the Temple and the Holy of Holies. With this in mind, we reiterate our warning ... that no man nor woman should set foot in the entire area of the Temple Mount, irrespective of which gate is used for this purpose."
The original halakhic ruling was issued by the two chief rabbis at the time, Isser Yehuda Unterman and Yitzhak Nissim, and they were joined by hundreds of other leading rabbinical figures. The current ruling was the initiative of the rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinowitz, and the head of the Ateret Cohanim yeshiva, Shlomo Aviner.
There are three basic prohibitions noted in the ruling: the lack of information about the location of the Holy of Holies; the fact that all the Jews of our times have been in the presence of the dead, or of others who have; and that so many leading rabbis have ruled that persons who are not pure must not touch holy ground.
During biblical times, the ashes of a flawless red heifer were required for ritual purification of any Jewish worshiper wishing to pray at the Temple. All attempts so far by Temple Mount enthusiasts to find the rare creature have failed.
The halakhic ruling comes at a time when the Temple Mount movements are gaining unprecedented momentum. Thousands of Jews, most of them religious, visit the site monthly. They regard the ruling as an attempt to relieve the rabbis' consciences and follow the teachings of their own rabbis, ignoring the sign at the entrance to the Mughrabi Gate that warns of possible death for those who disobey the ruling.
The turning point for these enthusiasts came when dozens of Yesha rabbis gave permission to go to the site a few years ago. Since then, many yeshiva students have gone, joined by their religious leaders. Their rabbis claim they have defined the area where it is possible to stand without touching holy soil. These include additions to the Temple built by Herod, such as Solomon's Stables, and the strip behind the Western Wall.
What about non-Jews?
Morons
How about Christians? Are we able to go there and help our friends rebuild their Temple?
Yes. Christ fulfilled the old law.
It has to do with Jewish purity.
What exactly is a flawless red cow?
No, wait, ...
"How about Christians? Are we able to go there and help our friends rebuild their Temple?"
Nope this not our place. I can think of four reasons:
(1) Christians (even Messanic Jews) are gentiles and in their oppinon we would be defilling the area. We should'nt do this. We should respect their opinions.
(2) I know many Christians want to see the Temple rebuilt because we think it is a necessary step to bring about the return of Christ. I think it is also. However, I don't think God needs my/our help fulfilling prophecy. Let God motivate the Jews to rebuild their temple in His timing.
(3) There is also the "little" problem of the "Dome of the Rock" which is sitting on the temple mount. This is one of Islam's important shrines. The reprocussions would be great. I think we should leave it all up to God.
(4) When Christ said "It is finished" the vale to the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom. The ceremonial law ended. As Christian we should have no interest in seeing the ceremonial law reinstituted (except for fulfillment of prophecy).
Yea, all this prophecy stuff just goes way past my head. All I know is that if the 3rd temple is built, we're all screwed (i believe mainly from nuclear annihilation rather than end-times prophecy since someone with nukes will probably get really pissed if these events transpire).
Every place in the world the muslims set foot is 'holy ground' if they so declare it...probably even some US property...wouldnt worry one jot or tittle about them being offended or not- as they will always find offense when it is in their interest to do so
imo
Since Jewish law forbids destroying the places of worship of other religions, the møøselimbs will have to do it themselves.
A slightly 'misguided' nuclear tipped missile from Iran should polish the al aqsa mosque clean off the Temple Mount nicely, and flame sterilize the ground to boot...
Ya know, I'm just a simple Southern Baptist guy who grew up raising cattle and I have no idea what a "flawless red heifer" would be. It all sounds too complicated, so I prefer to just remember the real sacrifice that was made.
I've never had this satisfactorily answered. Why is the "Dome of the Rock" an important shrine in Islam? It is supposedly the place where Mohammad ascended into heaven, but Mohammad died in Medina some 750 miles away.
Like war and peace, religion and logic are antithetical.
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