Rabbis Convene, Call for Ascent to Temple Mount

Israel National News (Link) - Gil Ronen (October 25, 2009)

At a special conference Sunday night at Heichal Shlomo in Jerusalem, Zionist rabbis are calling for Jewish ascent to the Temple Mount and for an end to the use of the Temple Mount as a platform for Muslim incitement.

The rabbis participating in the conference include Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Rabbi Yaakov Madan and Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich. Also participating are Knesset Members Uri Ariel, Aryeh Eldad and Michael Ben-Ari of the National Union, MK Uri Orbach (Jewish Home) and Kadima's Otniel Schneller. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor David Hadari and Moshe Feiglin are also among the scheduled speakers.

The chairman of the conference, Temple Institute Director Yehudah Glick told Arutz Sheva that the conference's date was chosen because this is the anniversary of the visit by Rambam (Maimonides) to the Temple Mount.

�There is a worrisome phenomenon that every time two or three rocks are thrown [by Arabs], the Jews are distanced from the Temple Mount,� he said. �The Arabs learned this and they behave accordingly.� Glick said that the police's decision to close down the Mount to Jews during the Sukkot holiday week was a move that could not go unanswered.

Many Zionist rabbis support ascent to the Temple Mount but some do not, citing the Nation of Israel's current state of impurity. Those who support ascent insist that the visitors first undergo ritual immersion in a mikveh, remain along the outer perimeter of the grounds and stay outside of areas where Jewish law forbids them to go.