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Rocks and Firebombs on the Temple Mount

(Source: israelnationalnews.com)

Jerusalem Official Complains of Temple Mount Discrimination

A Jerusalem city council member tells Arutz Sheva of his humiliation and discrimination against Jews at the Temple Mount.

Jerusalem city council member Yair Gabai told Arutz Sheva of his first-hand humiliation and of discrimination against Jews, especially those who are religious, trying to visit the Temple Mount. He said he has asked Public Security Minister Yitzchak Aharonovitch to order equal treatment for Jews and Arabs but doubts any action will be taken, at least not before next month’s elections.

“The only group of people prohibited from the Temple Mount are Jews, even though it is our holiest place and holier to us than to any other people,” he said.

Immediately after he arrived, Gabai said he experienced the discrimination against religious Jews like himself.

“We were interrogated with questions such as where we were going, why we came and what we intended to do on the Temple Mount, questions that non-observant Jews are not asked.”

Gabai said that if the interrogation was for security issues, he would not have complaints, “but these kind of questions are unacceptable. He added, “Special police were needed, not to protect us from Arabs but rather to make sure we would not utter even one verse of prayer,” which the Muslim authorities on the Temple Mount forbid, not allowing freedom of religion to Jews.

Police were particularly aggressive in their attitude, according to Gabai. He said they remove anyone who even appears to be praying from the Temple Mount.

In addition, on the day he visited, Jews were restricted from ascending the Temple Mount except for one hour.

Due to the extensive interrogation, he said little time remained to actually be on the Temple Mount.

On the other hand, Arabs are given free entry, he added.

(Source: israelnationalnews.com)

Muslims Riot, Jews Banned from Temple Mount

Threats of Muslim violence lead police to ban Jews from the Temple Mount until the end of Hannukah.

Jews have been barred from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem until Sunday, the last day of Hannukah. The Temple Mount is the holiest site on earth according to Jewish tradition.

The ban is aimed at preventing a Muslim riot at the site. Riots are thought to be particularly likely following Friday prayers.

It follows riots and terror attacks in Judea and Samaria. Tensions were particularly high following two incidents in which soldiers shot Arab attackers in Hevron.

Jewish organizations dedicated to Temple Mount activism expressed upset at the police ban. “The police treat the Temple Mount like a Muslim site, and open it to others only when necessary for tourism, at times and on days that suit tourists,” activists accused.

“In comparison,” they continued, “Jewish residents of Israel are discriminated against.”

They called to leave the Temple Mount open to Jews on every Jewish holiday. “The police must consider the many who wish to ascend the Mount for prayers and visits on Jewish holidays, and to institute the model used in the Tomb of the Patriarchs,” they urged. The Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hevron is normally split between Jews and Muslims, but is opened in its entirety to each religion on its holidays.

Currently Jewish prayer is not allowed on the Temple Mount, again for fear of Muslim reactions. Jews are allowed to visit the holy site but can be arrested for praying or even moving their lips in what appears to be prayer.

Activist groups have intervened against such arrests, and have successfully lobbied police to ease anti-Jewish discrimination.

Likud’s Feiglin Visits Har HaBayis to Thank HKBH for Victory

The leader of the Likud’s Manhigut Yehudit faction, Moshe Feiglin finally landed a realistic slot ahead of the general elections for the 19th Knesset.

On Monday, Feiglin visited Har HaBayis, as is his custom to do every month, accompanied by many supporters. He began the visit with a dvar Torah, and he told those accompanying him he wished to thank Hashem for the victory in the party’s primary elections.

He concluded with a tefilla, to oust the “Muslim robbers” from the holy site and return them to their lands as the construction get underway for the Beis HaMikdosh.

The group began singing עוד ישמע when they realized a chosson on his wedding day was among the visitors to the area. Also addressing the group was Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, who shared his story with the group, speaking about 45 years earlier when he served in the IDF and was saved on 19 Kislev after Arabs attacked his group in the Jordan Valley. He made the bracha שעשה לי נס and the group responded אמן.

Islamic Violence Follows Friday Prayers on Har HaBayis

Hundreds of Islamic worshipers pelted police with rocks following Friday prayer services on Har HaBayis on Friday 19 Tishrei 5773. Police used riot-control adjuncts to disperse the attackers. There were no reports of arrests or injuries.

Police remain on high alert in Yerushalayim over Sukkos, with a focus on the Old City, especially this year in light of the fact that Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided not to impose of closure on PA (Palestinian Authority) residents during the yomtov week.

(Source: theyeshivaworld.com)

A Public Water Reservoir Dating to Bayis Rishon Next to Kosel

According to Eli Shukron, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “It is now absolutely clear that the Jerusalem’s water consumption during the First Temple period was not solely based on the output of the Gihon Spring, but that it also relied on public reservoirs”

The find was presented to the public on Thursday 19 Elul 5772 in the “City of David Studies” conference that will be held in Jerusalem

A large rock-hewn water reservoir dating to the First Temple period was discovered in the archaeological excavations that are being conducted in the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden at the foot of Robinson’s Arch. The excavations at the site are being carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority, underwritten by the Ir Dovid Foundation and in cooperation with the Nature and Parks Authority.

The impressive reservoir was presented together with other finds from this past year at the 13th annual conference on the “City of David Studies of Ancient Jerusalem”.

The excavation, during the course of which the reservoir was discovered, is part of an archaeological project whereby the entire drainage channel of Jerusalem dating to Bayis Sheini is being exposed. The channel runs north along the City of David spur, from the Siloam Pool to a point beneath Robinson’s Arch. The route of the channel was fixed in the center of the main valley that extends from north to south the length of the ancient city, parallel to Har HaBayis. In his description of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period, Josephus refers to the valley by its Greek name “Tyropoeon”, which scholars believe means “Valley of the Cheese-makers”. Another interpretation identifies the valley with the “Valley of the Decision”, mentioned in the Book of Yoel.

It became apparent while excavating the channel that during the construction of this enormous engineering enterprise its builders had to remove earlier structures that were situated along the route of the channel and “pass through” existing rock-hewn installations that were located along it. An extraordinary installation that was exposed in recent weeks is a large water reservoir treated with several layers of plaster, which probably dates to the Bayis Rishon period.

The reservoir has an approximate capacity of 250 cubic meters and is therefore one of the largest water reservoirs from the Bayis Rishon period to be discovered so far in Jerusalem, and this was presumably a reservoir that was used by the general public.

According to Eli Shukron, the excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “While excavating beneath the floor of the drainage channel a small breach in the bedrock was revealed that led us to the large water reservoir. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that a water reservoir of this kind has been exposed in an archaeological excavation. The exposure of the current reservoir, as well as smaller cisterns that were revealed along the Tyropoeon Valley, unequivocally indicates that Jerusalem’s water consumption in the Bayis Rishon period was not solely based on the output of the Gihon Spring water works, but also on more available water resources such as the one we have just discovered.

According to Dr. Tvika Tsuk, chief archaeologist of the Nature and Parks Authority and an expert on ancient water systems, “The large water reservoir that was exposed, with two other cisterns nearby, is similar in its general shape and in the kind of plaster to the light yellow plaster that characterized the First Temple period and resembles the ancient water system that was previously exposed at Bet Shemesh. In addition, we can see the hand prints of the plasters left behind when they were adding the finishing touches to the plaster walls, just like in the water reservoirs of Tel Be’er Sheva, Tel Arad and Tel Bet Shemesh, which also date to the First Temple period”. Dr. Tsuk says, “Presumably the large water reservoir, which is situated near the Temple Mount, was used for the everyday activities of the Temple Mount itself and also by the pilgrims who went up to the Temple and required water for bathing and drinking”.

The exposure of the impressive water reservoir that lies below Robinson’s Arch joins a series of finds that were uncovered during recent excavations in this region of the city, indicating the existence of a densely built-up quarter that extended across the area west of the Temple Mount and predating the expansion of the Temple Mount. It seems that with the expansion of the Temple Mount compound to the west and the construction of the public buildings and the streets around the Temple Mount at the end of the Second Temple period, the buildings from the First Temple period and early Second Temple period were dismantled in this region and all that remains of them is a series of rock-cut installations, among them the hewn water reservoir.

According to Dr. Yuval Baruch, archaeologist in charge of the Jerusalem Region of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “Upon completion of the excavations along the route of the drainage channel, the IAA will examine possibilities of incorporating the impressive water reservoir in the planned visitors’ path”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

(Source: theyeshivaworld.com)

Har HaBayis Reopens to Jews After a Week

After being closed to Jews for eight days, authorities on Wednesday reopened Har HaBayis to Jewish visitors, Srugim reports. The reason given for the closure was the end of Ramadan and the It el-Fitr holiday.

Many Jews waited to go onto Har HaBayis since they were blocked on Rosh Chodesh. Mispallalim report there were significant delays due to a shortage of police. No one was permitted onto the area without a police escort.

Visitors were pained to see the accumulation of trash left behind by the Muslims, as well as the general neglect of the Makom HaMikdosh. A Hamas flag was also noticed atop trees.

It must be noted that according to the Poskei Hador one is absolutely forbidden to visit the Temple Mount, and there is an Issur Kares for one that goes there.

Three years ago on Sukkos, Israeli President Shimon Peres paid a visit to the Sukkah of Maran Hagon Rav Elyashiv ZATZAL, where Rav Elyashiv called on the President to prevent Jews from visiting Har HaBayis, stating it is an act that that is viewed as extremely provocative by the goyim. Maran stated everything possible must be done to avoid a religious war, and the provocateurs are playing with fire.

Maran is quoted as explaining to the president that Halacha forbids going onto Har HaBayis but today, it is more than this, it is an act that may lead to a religious war and bloodshed.

(BOLDING MINE - ed)