Jewish Visits to Temple Mount Hit New High During Passover
6,788 Jews reportedly visited the Temple Mount over the five days during Passover that Judaism’s holiest site was open to Jews.
By Pesach Benson, TPS
A record number of Jews visited the Temple Mount during the Passover holiday, an organization working to strengthen Jewish ties to the Jerusalem holy site announced on Thursday.
According to Beyadenu, 6,788 Jews visited the Temple Mount over the five days during Passover that the holy site was open to Jews.
“The rights of Jews on the Temple Mount are advancing too slowly in relation to the progress among the Israeli public, across its various sectors, which is reconnecting with the Temple Mount,” said Beyadenu CEO Tom Nisani.
Earlier in the day, Israeli Knesset member Zvi Sukkot visited the site openly praying and prostrating himself, defying a long-standing status quo.
The Religious Zionism lawmaker said his last visit to the holy site was 14 years ago when he was arrested for praying there.
“Today, Jews prostrate themselves, pray with a [quorum of 10], and the Waqf doesn’t come near us,” he said, referring to the Islamic Waqf which administers the Temple Mount.
The visit drew praise from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, who claimed credit for shifting the status quo that barred non-Muslim prayer at the site.
“What wasn’t done for 30 years is being done on my watch,” Ben-Gvir said. “I’m happy to see MK Zvi Sukkot, like many thousands, prostrating and praying at the Temple Mount.”
The Temple Mount, where the First and Second Jewish Temples were built, is the overall holiest site in Judaism.
The “status quo” governing the Temple Mount goes back to 1967 when Israel liberated the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordan during the Six-Day War. Fearing a religious war, then-defense minister Moshe Dayan agreed to let the Islamic Waqf, a Muslim trusteeship, continue managing the holy site’s day-to-day affairs, while Israel would maintain overall sovereignty and be responsible for security. The Waqf is overseen by the Jordanian monarchy.
Send Passover Packages to Needy Israeli Soldiers – Bring Them Joy!
We are honored to thank the young men and women of the IDF who risk their lives every day to protect the citizens of Israel. Soldiers have been in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria for extended periods – many are hoping to come home for Passover.
Join us in sending Passover food packages (and personal notes) to Israeli soldiers and their families.
Many soldiers spend the Passover holiday with needy families back home. The soldiers greatly appreciate your love and concern. Bring them Passover joy!
CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR PACKAGE AND NOTE TO ISRAELI SOLDIERS!
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