Jul 9, 2017
UNESCO says no, Katz says yes
UNESCO says Hebron is a Palestinian heritage site. And, it is one "in danger".
I am surprised that any Israeli is surprised with this decision.
This is just another in a long string of UN votes against Israel, and even if you just limit it to UNESCO, it follows other similar UNESCO decisions to turn Israeli sites into Palestinian sites.
There is nothing new or unexpected in this decision, as stupid and dishonest as it is.
Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz posted online a statement about such UN decisions not affecting Jewish history and rights... and he posted a picture of himself davening in Mearat HaMachpela.
Something I found interesting about this is that Katz is a kohen and cannot go into grave sites. The thing is, Mearat HaMachpela is different. They have birkat kohanim, the priestly blessings, every day there, despite the fact that it is over the caves of graves. There are different opinions as to whether a kohen can go there or not - I personally know some who do go and some who do not. Those who do go refer to rabbonim who pasken that either the configuration of the building over the graves does not allow tumah to go up and enter the structure or that the tzaddikim buried there are not "metamei".
I am surprised that any Israeli is surprised with this decision.
This is just another in a long string of UN votes against Israel, and even if you just limit it to UNESCO, it follows other similar UNESCO decisions to turn Israeli sites into Palestinian sites.
There is nothing new or unexpected in this decision, as stupid and dishonest as it is.
Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz posted online a statement about such UN decisions not affecting Jewish history and rights... and he posted a picture of himself davening in Mearat HaMachpela.
Something I found interesting about this is that Katz is a kohen and cannot go into grave sites. The thing is, Mearat HaMachpela is different. They have birkat kohanim, the priestly blessings, every day there, despite the fact that it is over the caves of graves. There are different opinions as to whether a kohen can go there or not - I personally know some who do go and some who do not. Those who do go refer to rabbonim who pasken that either the configuration of the building over the graves does not allow tumah to go up and enter the structure or that the tzaddikim buried there are not "metamei".
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With regard to Cohanim and Maarat Hamachpella, I asked the question many years ago to a Rav who lives in Chevron, he told me that in General sfardi and Chassidic positions are that it is OK for Cohanim to enter the Ma'ara, but mainstream Ashkenazim (like me) generally do not.
ReplyDeleteIronically at the time (20 years ago), the only minyan on Shabbat outside the ma'ara was in a Sfardi shul (avraham Avinu) - at least during bein HAzmanim while the Yeshiva was closed, so us Ashkenazi Cohanim were privileged to daven with a Sfardi Minyan on Shabbat, while the Sfardi Cohanim could daven with the Ashekanzim in the Ma'ara.