This past Wednesday I had the opportunity to share in an AMAZING experience (This was a first for me) as Steve Schwartz, his son Gidon and I joined Moshe Feiglin (and his son) for a visit to the Temple Mount. It seems that Moshe visits on the nineteenth of each month and groups join him for what proved to be one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had. After we went to the Mikveh the evening before, we made sure not to wear any leather on our feet and met Moshe at the entrance next to the Western Wall at 7:30 AM. On this day we were a group of about 25 people. Men and women, religious and secular.
We were also very fortunate as we were joined by Yehuda Glick, Director of the Temple Institute. Moshe asked him to take over leading the group and he really brought the Temple to life right in front of our eyes. Yehuda had a book from the Temple Institute and at each point he showed us where we were standing in respect to the Second Temple. Obviously we did not get close to ANY area that is prohibited. We were able to visualize the majesty of what once stood there (and hopefully will be rebuilt soon). One could imagine the Levites singing the psalm of the day and the priests blessing the nation of Israel on the stairs in front of the Temple. And then there was the deep pain of seeing the total desecration of G-d's Name that our government lets happen on a daily basis on our holiest sight. We saw remains of wooden foundations from the First Temple that were dug up and "thrown out" like garbage. We saw the excavations that they dug to create the mosque in "Solomons Stables" when Barak allowed them to dig an "emergency exit".
But Yehuda was magical in his explanations and the strength that he was able to share with us by just being so close to the Holy of Holies. One of the best things was his creativity in mixing psalms and prayers into his explanations in a way that the "Wakf Guard" (whose job it is to make sure that Jews NEVER pray on the Temple Mount) had no idea that he was actually saying prayers right in front of him. For me, the highlight of this experience was when Steve, Gidon and another Kohen (priest) stood far in front of where the priests once stood 2000 years ago and said the priestly blessing to us. You could feel the holiness. You could feel that G-d's Divine Presence really is there - in that place - and we KNEW for certain that our Temple will be rebuilt.
I urge everyone to join Moshe on one of his monthly visits (there were about 25 people, religious and secular who went this time). Rabbi Kook once visited the Temple Mount. Rabbi Moshe Fienstein ruled that it is permissible to go there. Go up. Experience it like we did. But even more important than our own personal experience is the important message we need to keep sending to the Arabs who "control" the Temple Mount and the government that allows them to. 20 years ago only one Jew at a time was allowed up on the Mount. Then they allowed groups of 3. Then they allowed groups of 10. Today there is no limit to the size of the group. On this past Tisha B'Av, almost 500 Jews visited the Temple Mount in groups of over 150. If more and more of us go up and make this most holy place a priority for us, then eventually we will be allowed to pray openly on the Temple Mount and the "control" will change hands.
Like I said before.... GO UP!
(This article first published by ). |
Temple Talk
