Written by STEPHEN GABRIEL ROSENBERG, THE JERUSALEM POST
Jul 24, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Traditionally the Temple Mount Faithful attempt to set up a foundation
stone for the Third Temple on Tisha Be'av, and the police routinely
prevent them from doing so. The occasion for this street theater is the
anniversary of the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE and that
of the Second Temple in 70 CE, both said to have occurred on the same
calendar date.
It is certainly right that the date be commemorated; but would
rebuilding the Temple be an appropriate act for the State of Israel
today?
On this day, as we mourn the destruction of both the First and Second
Temples, it seems fitting to recall a little-known story of how a Roman
emperor stood ready to rebuild the third temple. He acted not out of
love for the Jewish people, but because he was a pagan who - despite
its ascendency - despised Christianity.
The Roman Emperor Julian, who ruled 361-363 CE, called on the Jews to
return to the Land of Israel and rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem.
Whatever his motives, he showed our ancestors unusual respect and
understanding.
On Tisha Be'av our hearts turn to the Temple Mount, the site of the
First and Second Temples, whose destruction we mourn every year.
Therefore, it behooves us to ask: Does Jewish law permit us to go up to
the Temple Mount today? This may seem like an esoteric question, but it
has far-reaching political consequences.
Shortly after the Six Day War in June 1967, the Chief Rabbinate posted
a large sign at the entrance to the Temple Mount stating that,
according to Jewish Law, it is forbidden to enter the Temple Mount.
This prohibition was reiterated by chief rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yona
Metzger in January 2005. As a result, many Jews, especially the
Orthodox, have not entered the Temple Mount area for the past 40 years.
Dozens of rabbis from the national Zionist camp visited the Temple Mount on Sunday in order to increase awareness and emphasize Jewish linkage to the site.
A few days ago, the rabbis had released an announcement permitting Jews to enter the Temple Mount.
Sunday's visit marks the first time such a large group of rabbis, including the head rabbi of the Yesha Council Rabbi Dov Lior, Ma'ale Adumim Yeshiva head Rabbi Nahum Rabinowitz, and Rabbi Daniel Shaleh, have visited Temple Mount together.
The people of Israel entered the land of Cana'an in the 13th century
before the Common Era. According to the Bible, the land was promised on
numerous occasions by HaShem (God) to the sons of Avraham, Yitzchak and
Yaakov, who all lived in the Land until Yaakov (Jacob) and all of his
children went to Egypt in search of food during time of severe famine.
Consequently they became slaves and were stuck in Egypt for over 400
years.
Getting back to the 13 th century BCE; under the leadership of Yehoshua
Bin Nun, the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the
Land of Israel. Note that in Hebrew we call our country "ha'Aretz"
which means "The Land". There is a specific emphasis on "The", because
for us it is the only land.
The Jewish people are commanded to observe 613 commandments in the
Torah. Since many of them (more than half) can only be carried out in
the Land of Israel, a Jew living outside of "the Land" can not possibly
observe our faith in its fullness! Or in other words: living in Israel
under our own government is part of our religion. "The whole of the
commandments which I command you this day to observe to do is in order
that you may live, propagate, come to and inherit the land which the
Lord has sworn to your ancestors." (Deut 8:1)
