My father, z''l, said that if the Muslims were really smart they would leave us alone and we would destroy ourselves.
Are we trying to lose world support? Can we work any harder to shoot ourselves in the foot? The government's allowing such despicable behavior only encourages the same by our detractors and enemies around the world. And this is to say nothing about how it foments violence against and weakens the diaspora Jewish community.
I personally condemn all religious intolerance - that which is an imposition of one's religious beliefs on others. Not sure why you would mention Jews going up to the Temple Mount. If that's an example of religious intolerance, it is indeed intolerance on JEWS, not Muslims. In fact, the agreement with the Jordanians was made to ensure a fragile peace, not because there is ANYTHING that should prohibit Jews from the holiest site for Jews in the entire world. It is NOT the holiest for practitioners of Islam - theirs is in the homeland of Arabs, Saudi Arabia. Israel and Jews are always held to a higher standard than others. Acknowledging that Jews are human like everyone else is not what the world wants to hear and will amplify our every infraction while dismissing that of Muslims and Christians against Jews worldwide. Those are the facts.
Just as I don't think it's a good idea for Muslims to begin praying at the Western Wall, I equally don't believe it is religiously tolerant toward Jews for anyone to pray — rather than simply visit — on the Temple Mount, a site that has been sacred to Muslim worship for many centuries. When Muslims, Christians, and Jews begin fighting over shared holy sites rather than finding ways to divide and respect them, the result is a recipe for religious war.
It is also worth noting that according to the majority of rabbinic opinion spanning over 2,000 years, even setting foot on the Temple Mount constitutes a form of blasphemy for Jews — making Jewish prayer there a religious transgression by traditional standards, not merely a political provocation.
That said, this is ultimately a religious argument — not a civil one.
Jews should have every right to visit the Temple Mount, just as women of the wall should have every right pray at the Kotel. Whether or not Muslims should be playing soccer on the Mount is another question no one bothers to ask. They just do. If Muslims and Christians can visit the Temple Mount, so should Jews. As you say, praying and prostrating ones self is a separate issue. But if we're speaking of respect for religions, there can be no doubt that it is indeed the holiest site for Jews and using THAT as a example of religious intolerance to others was not a support for your arguments. It was an ill-made concession in an attempt to keep the peace - and it has not. Violence on the temple mount originates from ONE source, and it is not Jewish in nature.
The mainline Jewish position for centuries was that it is forbidden for Jews to go to the Temple Mount, because you may be stepping into the Temple without the necessary purification rituals. Those who do so despite this ruling are not normal religious Jews who want to pray - those go to the Western Wall - but extremists who want to destroy the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa and rebuild the Temple.
BS. We know where on the mount the Holy of Holies was. Many religious jews have gone up on the mount. There is NO reason why Jews should be prohibited when Muslims are allowed everywhere. Many people want many things.. Do Jews desecrate the mount the way the islamists do? Do they play soccer? Do they start fires and set off fireworks. No. Stop it. You sound silly. the "mainline Jewish position..." That same position wouldn't have reform jews mixing women and men. Stop it. You sound nuts.
Or course acts of religious intolerance are unacceptable and counterproductive. But the days of Jews kowtowing to Christians theologically should be over. The Christian bible and the writings of the patristic fathers are virulently anti-Jewish. The Catholic and Orthodox churches, with the supercessionist theology, are particularly offensive towards Jews. We should protect Christian communities in Israel and punish acts of religious discrimination. BUT we should be clear in our position that Christian intolerance of Judaism is unacceptable and that we view Christianity itself as a form of judaized paganism, which is what it is.
I’m a Christian. So what is the big harry deal? Are Jewish people supposed to be perfect. I’m not particularly religious. But it’s a symbol; it’s not actually alive. The world has gone mad. Leave Jews in peace, the way God intended.
I have two granddaughters who are religious. One is in Miluim in the air force and the other one is in the army doing her regular army service. She graduated in 2024 from a religious high school for girls. More than half, when their future plans were announced, had commitmented to serving in the army. Let us applaud all young women who serve in Tzahal secular and religious, as well as other forms of national service
This is a problem that has been growing under Netanyahu's watch - but what are we to expect from a coward that will not accept responsibility for October 7!
Ballpark, I think about a 100ish Christians killed by the current Israeli regime since 2023, half of whom were in Lebanon. This compares with about 20 Christians killed by the Iranian regime during the protests. The plight of Christians is far far worse in Africa however.
My father, z''l, said that if the Muslims were really smart they would leave us alone and we would destroy ourselves.
Are we trying to lose world support? Can we work any harder to shoot ourselves in the foot? The government's allowing such despicable behavior only encourages the same by our detractors and enemies around the world. And this is to say nothing about how it foments violence against and weakens the diaspora Jewish community.
I personally condemn all religious intolerance - that which is an imposition of one's religious beliefs on others. Not sure why you would mention Jews going up to the Temple Mount. If that's an example of religious intolerance, it is indeed intolerance on JEWS, not Muslims. In fact, the agreement with the Jordanians was made to ensure a fragile peace, not because there is ANYTHING that should prohibit Jews from the holiest site for Jews in the entire world. It is NOT the holiest for practitioners of Islam - theirs is in the homeland of Arabs, Saudi Arabia. Israel and Jews are always held to a higher standard than others. Acknowledging that Jews are human like everyone else is not what the world wants to hear and will amplify our every infraction while dismissing that of Muslims and Christians against Jews worldwide. Those are the facts.
Just as I don't think it's a good idea for Muslims to begin praying at the Western Wall, I equally don't believe it is religiously tolerant toward Jews for anyone to pray — rather than simply visit — on the Temple Mount, a site that has been sacred to Muslim worship for many centuries. When Muslims, Christians, and Jews begin fighting over shared holy sites rather than finding ways to divide and respect them, the result is a recipe for religious war.
It is also worth noting that according to the majority of rabbinic opinion spanning over 2,000 years, even setting foot on the Temple Mount constitutes a form of blasphemy for Jews — making Jewish prayer there a religious transgression by traditional standards, not merely a political provocation.
That said, this is ultimately a religious argument — not a civil one.
Jews should have every right to visit the Temple Mount, just as women of the wall should have every right pray at the Kotel. Whether or not Muslims should be playing soccer on the Mount is another question no one bothers to ask. They just do. If Muslims and Christians can visit the Temple Mount, so should Jews. As you say, praying and prostrating ones self is a separate issue. But if we're speaking of respect for religions, there can be no doubt that it is indeed the holiest site for Jews and using THAT as a example of religious intolerance to others was not a support for your arguments. It was an ill-made concession in an attempt to keep the peace - and it has not. Violence on the temple mount originates from ONE source, and it is not Jewish in nature.
The mainline Jewish position for centuries was that it is forbidden for Jews to go to the Temple Mount, because you may be stepping into the Temple without the necessary purification rituals. Those who do so despite this ruling are not normal religious Jews who want to pray - those go to the Western Wall - but extremists who want to destroy the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa and rebuild the Temple.
BS. We know where on the mount the Holy of Holies was. Many religious jews have gone up on the mount. There is NO reason why Jews should be prohibited when Muslims are allowed everywhere. Many people want many things.. Do Jews desecrate the mount the way the islamists do? Do they play soccer? Do they start fires and set off fireworks. No. Stop it. You sound silly. the "mainline Jewish position..." That same position wouldn't have reform jews mixing women and men. Stop it. You sound nuts.
After all happenings and for how long anywhere else would be much more and much worse reactions.
Or course acts of religious intolerance are unacceptable and counterproductive. But the days of Jews kowtowing to Christians theologically should be over. The Christian bible and the writings of the patristic fathers are virulently anti-Jewish. The Catholic and Orthodox churches, with the supercessionist theology, are particularly offensive towards Jews. We should protect Christian communities in Israel and punish acts of religious discrimination. BUT we should be clear in our position that Christian intolerance of Judaism is unacceptable and that we view Christianity itself as a form of judaized paganism, which is what it is.
I’m a Christian. So what is the big harry deal? Are Jewish people supposed to be perfect. I’m not particularly religious. But it’s a symbol; it’s not actually alive. The world has gone mad. Leave Jews in peace, the way God intended.
IMr Eyal,
I have two granddaughters who are religious. One is in Miluim in the air force and the other one is in the army doing her regular army service. She graduated in 2024 from a religious high school for girls. More than half, when their future plans were announced, had commitmented to serving in the army. Let us applaud all young women who serve in Tzahal secular and religious, as well as other forms of national service
This is a problem that has been growing under Netanyahu's watch - but what are we to expect from a coward that will not accept responsibility for October 7!
Ballpark, I think about a 100ish Christians killed by the current Israeli regime since 2023, half of whom were in Lebanon. This compares with about 20 Christians killed by the Iranian regime during the protests. The plight of Christians is far far worse in Africa however.