Jewish Scene
Rabbi Shapira forbids visiting temple Mount
Neta Sela
Published: 16.05.07, 16:23
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1. Ok, somebody help me out!
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (05.16.07)
Why can't Jews visit the Temple Mount, and if they can't, then who? How will the Temple ever be rebuilt, if you can't set foot on where it used to be?
2. Thank God Rabbi Shapira is not God!
Antonio ,   Haifa   (05.16.07)
3. #1
Jamus   (05.16.07)
The problem is that, since the exact location of the temple is not known, it is impossible to be sure one is not going to accidentaly step into a space that one should not. The most prominent example is the holy of holies. As for the temple being rebuilt, it is supposed to happen with the coming of the Messiah, so one need not worry about trying to figure it out until that time. Of course, there are plenty of Rabbis who totally disagree with these interpretations, and thus there are issues like this.
4. End the Haredi draft deferrals & govt-sponsored welfare.
sk ,   USA   (05.16.07)
The Haredim consider Israel (Zionism) idolatry? Well, no more welfare for them and no more draft dodging.
5. To #3
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (05.16.07)
I thank you very much. Now I understand, and the article and the disagreements between the rabbis make sense.
6. Defiling Temple Mount
Larry Heather ,   Calgary Canada   (05.17.07)
How could the Temple Mount be more defiled that it is now, dominated by an alien religion far from the teaching of the Tenach? As long as due care and respect is taken, how could Jewish visitors not but bring a measure of sanctification to this God given place?
7. # 4 and #2 ignorant
sam ,   jerusalem   (05.17.07)
#2. Rabbi shapira is a great torah scholar, and is closer to G-d than you will ever be, he knows halacha better than most so a little respect would be appropriate #3. rabbi shapira is the head of yeshivat mercaz harav , a yeshiva founded by harav kook zt"l who happened to be a cornerstone of ligitimate religious zionism(not these phonies running around on har habayit desecrating g-ds halacha and calling themselves religious zionists) , and decreed indeed it is forbidden to enter har habayit ,rav shapira is a leader of the israeli religious zionist community he was also the ashkenaz cheif rabbi of israel for abot 20 or so years,please save your bashing for our enemies who are the arab terrorists if u did not realize , everyone has their part to serve sk and for the chareidim its to study g-ds torah and protect us spiritually , for the religious zionists its to study torah and serve in the army. so considering you are haredi bashing when this article is on rav shapiras decree makes no sense at all unless you were just looking for a reason to bash haredim considering rav shapira is clearly mizrachi.
8. cont.
sam ,   jerusalem   (05.17.07)
and please notice that the headline of this article is rav shapira PROMINENT zionist rabbi , prominent unlike these fakers shaming g-ds holy halacha.
9. I dont dare to step on holi ground .
ben ,   singapore   (05.17.07)
10. why all the division?
Danny Lee Mathis ,   Iron Station   (05.17.07)
Not one religion has absolute truth. ALL writtings in religious orders have enough vagueness to allow the doctorines of what Man thinks it says and or means. Then there's fighting saying ones wrong & the other is not. Not a pretty site at all. This kind of thing Actually does damage to honest truth seekers. i don't think there's one man on this planet with absolute truths. And that goes for ALL religions. If the Holy of Holies was so Holy then one would think you would KNOW where that would be. Vagueness for doctorines sake is what i see is the bottomline here. Let me tell you what it means... The oath of ALL religions. Here's an idea... Try to find an agreeable point & move on for identity's sake!
11. Speaking of ideology...
Ariel ,   Judean Hillls   (05.17.07)
Yated Neelam's only ideology is to perpetuate galut; spiritually and physically. Indeed that charedi ideology is at its lowest point since it was first declared; that's why there are so many lonely wives with blogs, runaways, etc. And why they make so much of the little things... like qitniyoth.
12. Unexplained Rulings Don't Cut It
David ,   Israel   (05.17.07)
Even Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (of blessed memory) - a halachic decisor with only a handful of peers in his generation - did not issue rulings without detailed explanations on the premise that no one alive was of sufficient stature to expect others to follow their rulings without providing their reasons. Rav Ovadia has followed much the same approach and provides detailed explanations for his rulings. Telling us it is "against the halacha" is insufficient. He must provide his reasoning. If he will not, or cannot, he should not expect anyone to follow him. On the other hand, if he does, and his reason is convincing, then he will have not only my respect (which I give on principle already), but my obedience as well. But, the principle Rav Feinstein expressed remains. In my own low cant: show me the money - put up or shut up.
13. To # 6
BUSH ,   USA   (05.17.07)
A very simple answer. The Temple mount is not defiled at all. Maybe in your eyes but not in G-ds eyes. If cows and sheep grazed the mountain or cats roamed the alleyways you would not call it defiled. Only those considered holy and are now not holy can defile it by walking it. However other nations that were not called holy by G-d cannot become impure either nor is it considered an alien religion. They are just a people no different if they were connected to a religion or not.
14. #13: BUSH
Abdullah ,   Saxony   (05.17.07)
Your answer is very true. G-d bless you..
15. Delicate question for the leaders and masses
Steve ,   USA   (05.18.07)
B"H The question of walking on the ground is important one, but it is a dispute among the leadership. The civilian population needs to prepare for its role by separating charity. The leadership would need to figure out how to best fulfill their roll. And until it is all sorted out, the Muslim religion has great value to Judiasm by simply being there to prevent a great dispute among the Jewish people. When hate is preached from there towards the Jews, we Jews need to realize that hate and improper action among us is what is keeping us from being there. Our enemies are shouting our problem in our face. Perhaps we can see it more clearly when an enemy shouts than when we look in the mirror.
16. The REAL defilement...
Thomas ,   Cleveland, USA   (05.18.07)
Jews visiting the holiest site in their heritage in history is not the real abomination. The REAL defilement is the fact that two Muslim mosques stand on the mount. Those should go WAY before Datim and Haredim debate about why or why not Jews should visit the mount.
17. to #3 you r waiting to the masseia
shadi   (05.19.07)
we beleieve that he waiting for u we also waiting for u he said in mathew 23 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” that mean that when you all beleive in jesus of nazareth he will come and the temple will rebiled
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