Har Sinai’s Boundaries and Its Relevance Today

What else in history had holiness and still retains holiness? The Beis HaMikdosh. Even the place where it once resided still retains that holiness. What is the name of that place? The Har HaBayis. There have been and still are stories of wayward, misguided, fanatic or extremist Jews, who ‘look’ very religious, but completely ignore and violate the words of our Gedolim not to go on the Har HaBayis!

Unfortunately, their emotions (i.e. heart) have dominated their intelligence (i.e. mind).

They sincerely ‘believe’ and ‘feel’ that the Gedolim are ‘depriving’ them of having a relationship with G-d. Just like Moshe Rabbeinu made boundaries around Har Sinai, our Gedolim have made boundaries of how close one is permitted be to the Har HaBayis.

What’s the cause of their dangerous movement?

When our Gedolim ban things, people find more of a need to ignore their words and do as they please.

Why is that? The Torah tells us that we are “a stiff-necked people.”

This can either be a blessing or curse. When the nations of the world want to make, us forget Hashem’s Torah, then we are supposed to be a stiff-necked people. However, when we act like stiff necked people towards our Gedolim, then it’s a curse.

These ‘Jews’ don’t realize that “Our Gedolim’s words are like fiery coals!”

How far back have the Gedolim banned going onto the Har HaBayis?

Rav Avraham Yitzhak HaKohein Kook in the 1920s banned Jews from visiting the site out of a concern that they may inadvertently step into an area which in Jewish law is forbidden to enter unless a specific ritual purification ceremony is performed. On August 23^rd, 2008, Rav Kanievsky adds, “Entrance to the Temple Mount and the defilement of the Holy of Holies, is more severe than any of the violations in the Torah.”

On January 15^th, 2015, Israel Police Chief Yochanan Danino fears the recent upsurge in Jewish identity with the holy site and the yearning to visit and daven will lead to catastrophe. Rav Elyashiv zt”l, foresaw Danino’s fear.

Perhaps we can read the Gemara, “Who are the חֲכָמִים, wise men - i.e. sages? They are the ones who see a future development.”

On October 8^th, 2009, he stated, “Halacha forbids going onto Har HaBayis but today, it is more than this, it is an act that may lead to a religious war."

[See Rambam, Sefer HaMitzvos, Mitzvah #78. See also Entering the Temple Mount - in Halacha and Jewish History by Gedalia Meyer and Henoch Messner, page 34].

Rav Shimon Schwab zt”l, said at an Agudah Convention, “Don’t fight, provoke, anger or embarrass them (i.e. the nations).” Eisav never forgets. Only harm can come from it. If our sonei yisrael (enemies of Israel) in Austria want to elect one of their ilk - a former Nazi criminal as their president - let them do it, don’t mix in! That’s like one who seizes a dog’s ears, [so is] one who grows wrathful over a dispute that is not his (Mishlei 26:17).

Rav Elyashiv zt”l, is telling the same concept, “Do not go on Har HaBayis because you’ll provoke the Arabs and put the rest of our nation in jeopardy!”

On October 30^th, 2014, a Har HaBayis activist used the words of our beloved Novi to justify his wrongdoing. He said, “The Har HaBayis is prophesized to become ‘a house of prayer for all nations.’”

Note, the verse does not say, “For My House is called a House of Prayer for all the nations” but rather it “will be called a House of Prayer for all the nations,” signifying that this event hasn’t taken place yet. Christians are still praying in their churches and Muslims are still praying in their mosques.

Rav Dovid Yosef says, “Entry to Har HaBayis for tefillah as it were, is prohibited by halacha and one who davens, his tefillos are an abomination to Hashem are not welcomed but blasphemous and one who is guilty of this commits a major avreira...”

This activist doesn’t understand that when a Tzaddik bans people from going onto the Har HaBayis, he will not end up succeeding:

Rav Dovid Yosef stresses, “Some may view closing Har HaBayis as relinquishing sovereignty, so it is necessary to state emphatically this is not the case and we are not relinquishing our rights. Quite the contrary, entry to Har HaBayis is prohibited because of its “awesome kedushah that exceeds the kedushah of all else.”

[See Mishnah in Keilim 1:8 and Rambam, Misneh Torah, Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 7:15]

During a Knesset Committee session on September 17^th, 2013, addressing Jews visiting Har HaBayis during Sukkos, Arab MKs stated, “Jews have no business there...”

His words are not his words. He is merely being a mouthpiece for what our Gedolim have told us. However, one day to our shock and disbelief, he himself along with the rest of the world will also be conversing with the same G-d that we do.

In the merit of listening to our leaders, may Hashem soon fulfill: