TruthNews

Ultra-Orthodox Loosen Ban On Entering Temple Mount

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 8 Jul 2008

The rabbinic ban against the entry of Jews on the Temple Mount which has been maintained by a broad consensus of ultra-Orthodox authorities since the 1967 Six-Day War has begun to splinter, according to Ha'aretz.

After religious Zionist rabbis recently began to lift the ban and increase the amount of religious Zionist visitors to the sensitive site, an increasing number of haredi ultra-Orthodox have started visiting the Temple Mount.

Both the ultra-Orthodox and the religious Zionist rabbis accepted the ban on Jews entering the Temple Mount after the Six-Day War. The decision stemmed from the inability to determine the precise location of the temple and sanctuary, which worshippers could only visit after being purified.

Recently, Zionist rabbis have permitted Jews to enter the site, causing renewed tensions between Jews and Muslims over the Temple Mount. Many of the religious adjudicators who have changed their approach said that Jews must be able to enter the Temple Mount in order to liberate it from its Muslim custodians, who are routinely denying any historic Jewish connection to the site.

In related news, the Temple Institute in the Old City of Jerusalem has apparently cracked the genetic code that will make it possible to clone a red heifer, a rare animal whose burnt ashes are needed to purify priests for service in the Temple like in ancient times, since they are considered ritually unclean due to contact with the dead.

The Temple Institute will not begin to clone the red heifer now because it can only be handled by priests who themselves are in a state of purity. Since there are no ashes of a red heifer to purify priests with, the only solution would be to find priestly families who are willing to give up their children after birth to be raised for 13 years in purity and isolation well above ground, so that they can handle the next red heifer upon its recreation.

A few days ago a workshop for priestly garments, under the direction of the Temple Institute, was also dedicated in Jerusalem’s Old City as a team of tailors prepare to sew 120 sets of garments future Temple priests. A number of kohanim - descendants of Temple priests - were on hand to be measrued for their priestly robes. The garments, which will include a tunic, turban, belt and pants, are to be completed by the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday in October.