Menachem Porush, former MK from Agudat Yisrael and father of current MK Meir Porush, famously took credit for persuading then Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan (after a delegation of rabbis led by Rav Yechezkal Abramsky met with Dayan) to give Har Habayit over to the Arabs after the Six Day War in which Israel had retaken the Old City and Har HaBayit..
Today MK Moshe Feiglin went up to Har HaBayit, as he does on the 19th of every Hebrew month, and attempted to use his immunity as MK to enter one of the mosques. This specific mosque has barred entry to non-Muslim visitors, but, according to the news reports, Feiglin insisted as MK to be granted entry. The Arabs got upset, made a bit deal, thigns got heated, and Feiglin was removed from Har Habayit.
(source: Kikar)
While the call to Netanyahu said Feiglin's attempt to ascend Har Habayit was the problem, the truth is he ascends regularly and that is not what caused the kerfuffle. What caused it was the incident by the mosque. Further, the truth is, the incident was not even by a mosque. it was by the Dome of the Rock, which is not a mosque.
In the inroduction to his book "Har Habayit", Rav Goren zt"l wrote that when there is the risk of foreign control over Mount Moriah, it is even permissible to enter the area of the azara, the courtyard that is normally forbidden to non-kohanim and to those impure, in order to not give them a foothold on the mount of God, for the ascent of Jews on the Mount in this situation is considered conquering and prevents foreigners from taking it over.
From the moment I became MK, a representative of the ruling Jewish authority in Eretz Yisrael - I have sensed that these words of Rav Goren obligate me to go into any and every area of Har Habayit. This morning I did so and I never had imagined how right I was. It seems the Dome of the Rock, which is not a mosque, has been closed for two years from Jews and tourists. "Only Muslims can enter" the Waqf representative said to me when I politely asked to enter. I explained to the police officer that by law nobody can prevent entry from an MK to any place, and definitely not to a place that citizens are allowed to enter. The response of the policeman was astounding - " the place belongs to the Muslim Waqf". Here it is - the heart and core of Eretz Yisrael, the place of the Holy of Holies, has been given practical control to the Muslims - simply because Jews have not walked there because of its holiness.
It is important to stress, I am not calling on Jews to start going to the place of the mikdash itself - there is a difference between me as MK and between the wider public, but what became clear this morning was a clear admission regarding the loss of Jewish authority on the Mountain, and it is incumbent upon all of us to be drafted with our feet to change the situation.
It is my intention to turn today to the Attorney General in order to clarify the status of authority on the Mount and the breaking of the law by the Israeli Police.One can debate whether what Feiglin did was prudent or not. Personally, I think the only thing that will change the current situation is something that will shake things up. What Feiglin did is perhaps just what was needed to bring about the renewed discussion regarding control over Har Habayit, and what Jews should be allowed to do while on it.
Regarding Porush, well, perhaps the attitude about Har Habayit just runs in the family.
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Meir Porush, an MK sitting on the UTJ benches, would do well to put his own party's house in order before demanding that Moshe Feiglin, an MK representing an entirely different party altogether, be expelled from the legislature.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear!
DeleteHis representing his party in the knesset renders him no less immune from an issur kares than anyone else.
ReplyDeletesee my comment further below.
DeleteFeiglin is using a hetter form Rav Goren that for purposes of kibbush - conquering eretz yisrael and the makom hamikdash, entering that area is allowed. The hetter is not Rav Gorens - that is the halacha. The application is Rav Gorens. According to that, there is no issur karres in what Moshe Feiglin did.
"His representing his party in the knesset renders him no less immune from an issur kares than anyone else."
DeleteWho are "his" and "him", please Moshe Moshel? In the intetests of clarity it might have been easier to name which of the two MKs you were referring to!
Feiglin did a great service for the Jewish people today. As an Mok with political immunity, he has become a shaliach of our security just like the soldiers and policemen who are permitted (and obligated) to go up on the Temple Mount. Pushing the boundaries and not being scared of the Arab deterrence that has built up. I am saddened each time I hear of this Haredi galus mentality of not provoking the goyim and everyday, when I say just before shema yisrael, I try to say with utmost kavanna - v'tolichenu kommemiut l'artzenu'. I've been much saddened by the culture of hate and division that has shown up since the middle of the sleepy 2013 elections and seen multiple embarrassing moments for most of the Haredi and Dati-Leumi candidates and MoK. I still hold much respect for ben Ari and Eldad who did not get driven into this mud-slinging.
ReplyDeleteJosh
Is it muttar according to any opinion to enter the Dome of the Rock?
ReplyDeletenot under normal circumstances. actually,, there is an opinion that says so, but it is rejected by everybody. an archaeologist named Tuvya Sgiv believes the entire mikdash was further south on the Mount. according to him, the Dome of the Rock area has no halachic significance, as the holy of holies is further south in the area of the water cisterns.
DeleteRegardless of that, Feiglin's "hetter" is using Rav Goren's opinion that going for the purpose of kibbush is allowed.
It happens to be that I have heard the opinion that everybody walking there nowadays on har habayit is a form of kibbush, and therefore one can go anywhere, but that too is not the standardly accepted hanhaga.
Rafi,
ReplyDeleteWhat is your source that Porush persuaded Dayan to hand over Har Habyit to the Arabs? Thanks.
it is a famous story that has been published in the haredi newspapers many times. I would not say he persuaded Dayan - I said and would say he takes credit for it. He definitely tried. a delegation led by Rav Yecheskal Abramsky met with Dayan on the subject and then Porush followed up with the demand. He supposedly also said that he sent a letter to the UN demanding Israel not have control over the Temple Mount as we should have nothing to do with it.
Deletethe story was also printed was in Rav Yisrael Ariel's sefer about Har HaBayit
pretty impressive. he convinced dayan to give away har habayit and convinced rabin to keep kever rachel. did porush cry in front of dayan like he did with rabin?
DeleteWhat was their rational? Thanks.
Deletethe story goes that he screamed in front of Dayan.. crying was saved for Rabin.
ReplyDelete