U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew made a discreet visit on Monday to the home of Rabbi Dov Landau, the senior spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox community’s Lithuanian stream.
During the meeting, the ambassador conveyed a personal message from U.S. President Joe Biden detailing his opposition to Jews ascending the Temple Mount. The ambassador thanked Rabbi Landau for his efforts to calm tensions and prevent security escalations throughout the Middle East.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to the Temple Mount sparked international controversy in recent weeks. The move, considered forbidden in ultra-Orthodox circles prompted a Haredi newspaper to publish an unusual headline in Arabic condemning the visit, under Rabbi Landau's directive.
Ben-Gvir even suggested in a recent visit to the holy site, that a synagogue should be built in the complex. Those remarks angered many rabbis and Haredi political parties.
Lew's meeting with the Rabbi was not their first. When the ambassador first arrived, he visited Landau and received his blessing. At the end of the visit on Monday, the rabbi wished the ambassador a happy Jewish New Year ahead of the high holidays.