A House of Prayer for All Peoples?

[Guest David Ben-Ariel]

On Simchat Torah (Festival of the Rejoicing of the Law/Last Great Day) I went up to the Temple Mount with my Bible to pray. Although I do not usually wear a kippa (skull cap), I took one with me.

My first challenge was to pass the guards near the Temple Mount entrance; if they saw me with my Bible they would not let me enter. I silently prayed all the way up to the site where God's Temple stood twice, and will be rebuilt for a third and final time, that I would be able to go in. I got past the guards.

You say Jewish guards prevent Christians and Jews from exercising their religious right to pray on the Temple Mount? That's right! Only Muslims have unlimited access to Judaism's most holy site. Only the Koran is permitted within. The Tanach (Jewish Scripture, known to much of the world as the "Old Testament") and Christian Scriptures (the New Testament) are forbidden. Yet Israel claims to respect the religious rights of all people.

Israel has no law against Christians and Jews praying or reading scriptures on the Temple Mount. However, it does have an unwritten agreement with the Wakf (Muslim religious authorities) prohibiting this. No sign is posted, stating: "Warning! Christian and Jewish prayers are forbidden! Bibles not allowed inside by Muslim religious authorities. Proceed with caution!"

I do not accept that Moslems have the authority to forbid me from reading appropriate Psalms or the New Testament account of Jesus celebrating the Water Libation Ceremony (Psalms 120-134, John 7:37). My question was, where should I read those passages? I ended up between the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa mosque, just to the right of the place where Moslems wash their hands and feet. I was on the other side of the raised platform there, if you face the Mosque of Omar.

First, I nervously sat and read. Then I put on my black kippa, stood up and started to read for a few minutes until I became distracted by fears of being attacked by the Moslem guards. I sat down, took off my kippa, and continued to read. Then one of the Wakf guards noticed me and asked what I was reading. I replied, "Yes, it's my book." He took it from me and saw that it was a Bible. He demanded to know if I was a Christian or a Jew. When I told him I was a Christian, he asked me why I was wearing a magen David (Star of David).

I did not feel obligated to explain that it was a gift from my mother and youngest sister, and told him, "Give back my Bible." He ordered, "You have to leave now!" Again I said, "Give back my Bible." When he refused, I demanded its return more loudly. He raised his fist as if to hit me and warned me not to raise my voice. This attracted the attention of some passing tourists, who gathered around us. I told them, "This thief has stolen my Bible!"

The Wakf guard told me to leave again and threatened to hit me. He said he would give me back my Bible outside. Since there was no reason for him to confiscate it in the first place, I told him to return it to me then and there and I would go. At this point he radioed an Israeli policeman, who came running. The Israeli handcuffed my right hand, which I raised and showed to the assembled tourists, saying, "This is Israeli democracy!" I asked the Israeli repeatedly, "What law have I broken?" knowing that I had not broken any law, yet was being treated like a common criminal.

I am shocked that Jewish police in the Jewish State help maintain Moslem domination of the Temple Mount by suppressing Christian and Jewish religious rights there. Is it the Temple Mount or the Mosque Mount?

An Israeli policeman led me away. I told the bewildered tourists, "This is what happens to a Christian or Jew who wants to read the Bible where the holy Temple stood. This is what happens to Christians and Jews who want to pray where our prophets and patriarchs prayed, and where Jesus and his disciples taught."

Why the exclusive religious rights for Moslems? And Israel wants to hand over control of Rachel's Tomb, Bethlehem and Joseph's Tomb to Moslem religious authorities?! Are they crazy or what?

In the police station at the Western Wall Plaza, the officers wanted to know who else was with me. They were relieved to find that I was alone. (They should have known I was performing a mitzva [religious commandment]). The police said they arrested me for my own protection. I told them they should have arrested the Wakf guard who threatened me! Why not remove, once and for all, the threat of Moslem violence? Why reward Moslem extremists?

The police laughed in disbelief when I told them I am a Christian and that my Bible includes the New Testament, which they returned to me. A Druze officer said, "But you must respect other religions." He remained silent when I asked, "Where was their respect for mine?" I explained that our Biblical goal is to enable everyone to come and pray on the mountain where God's Temple stood, and in the Temple when it will be rebuilt. It is prophesied to become a "House of Prayer" for all nations.

The police told me I could return to the Temple Mount as a tourist - without my Bible. I said that I do not want to go up there only as a "tourist;" I want to pray there. When they asked me how many times I had been up there, I said "a thousand." They wrote that down in their report. They said I could make a short statement for the record. I said something to this effect: "Is it too much to ask during this 3,000th anniversary of King David's Jerusalem to peacefully read his inspired words on the Temple Mount?"

When I left the police compound, one of the policemen told me I did a good thing. Once outside, I was met by some Jews who saw the incident and congratulated me.

I pray that this unfortunate encounter will raise awareness of Israel's religious discrimination against Christians and Jews. The situation must change. It will when enough people cry "Basta!" (Italian for "enough!").

May the day soon come when Christians, Jews and Moslems can say: "My House shall be called a house of prayer for all Peoples." (Isaiah 56:7). The Bible says

"Moreover, concerning the stranger, who (is) not of Your people Israel, but comes out of a far country for Your Name's sake. For they shall hear of Your great Name, and of your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm, and will come and pray toward this house. Hear you in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to You for, that all peoples of the earth may know Your Name, to fear you, as (do) Your people Israel, that they may know that Your Name is called upon this house that I have built." (I Kings 8:41-43)

"And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to serve Him and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants - everyone who observes the Sabbath - I will bring them to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon My altar, for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." (Isaiah 56:6-7)

"And it shall come to pass at the end of days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established at the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and peoples shall flow to it. And many nations shall go, and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord...and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths,' for out of Zion shall go forth the Torah, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Micah 4:1-2)

(This article was published in the Jerusalem-based, Root and Branch Association newsletter, January 1996.)

[Leonard]

Could have caused a riot (or worse!)...still pretty gutsy!!

[Guest And8]

Israel has no law against Christians and Jews praying or reading scriptures on the Temple Mount. However, it does have an unwritten agreement with the Wakf (Muslim religious authorities) prohibiting this. No sign is posted, stating: "Warning! Christian and Jewish prayers are forbidden! Bibles not allowed inside by Muslim religious authorities. Proceed with caution!"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As a Christian, I have a lot of respect for the Jews. But it breaks my heart to see how the Israeli non-spoken law was applied in this case. If Israel does not stand up for its own 'freedom of religion', where is it all going to end? Jews will become Muslims! Wow, if that (God's chosen people following other gods) isn't going to anger God immensely once again (read the Old Testament for all the other times they did this), I don't know what will. But in all honesty, don't I do the same - follow idols - more often than not?

[nebula]

Could have caused a riot (or worse!)...still pretty gutsy!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was thinking this is why the Israeli gov't kind-of has to appease the Muslims here.

The risk of Muslims rioting and that escalating into something worse is just way too high.

[Guest David Ben-Ariel]

Could have caused a riot (or worse!)...still pretty gutsy!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was thinking this is why the Israeli gov't kind-of has to appease the Muslims here.

The risk of Muslims rioting and that escalating into something worse is just way too high.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What could be worse than Nazi-Muslims occupying the TEMPLE Mount? What could be worse than the religious rights of Jewish and Christian pilgrims being trampled daily by those who hate the God of Jacob-Israel?

Rather than submit to such blackmail, to such terrorist threats, ISRAEL MUST REMOVE THE THREAT. The mosques must go! The Temple Mount must be restored as the Temple Mount, as is most logical and biblical in the Jewish homeland of Israel - not Ishmael!

[nebula]

I quite agree!

I can't wait for that abomination to be eliminated.

But one should also act in wisdom as well as the Lord's direction.

I believe the Lord has a time set for all to be taken care of, as it may be there is a strong tie between the Temple Mount and the events laid out in Revelation.

One needs to be careful about taking God's matter into their own hands.

[Guest yod]

And we should let Israel and her people decide what they want to do.

Remember, at most there are only about 12% of jews in Israel who are religious so the Temple Mount is only a historical artifact to most of them. Whether we like that or not is secondary.

I am shocked at how Bush has pressured Israel to concede anything to the corrupt leadership of the PLO. I am also shocked that Sharon would circumvent the due process of the Israeli public in not allowing a vote.

Still, this is their business. The only correct response, imo, is to pray for His will to be done and not presume to know what that is exactly

[Guest shiloh357]

Nebula is correct. Moshe Dayan gave the Temple Mount back to the Muslims after the Six Day War, which was a dumb thing to do, but it was done, nevertheless.

Israel is not practicing religious discrimination, but rather extreme prudence. Many innocent Jews would be slaughtered in any ensuing riot or increased spate of terrorist attacks. Synagogues would be bombed, and it would be an all out "street war" in Jerusalem, and other Jewish cities. Is five minutes on the Temple Mount worth all the Jewish blood that would be spilled? Would you want to live with the knowledge that your actions succeeded to do nothing but cause more heartache in God's holy city? We are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not to be instruments of its pain, no matter how well intentioned our actions are.

We who follow the Messiah do not have to be as militant about the Temple Mount, because all of us, Jew and Gentile alike, are living stones and as such, we are the Temple of the Lord.

As Nebula said we must use wisdom and the Lord's direction in these areas. Someday, all of us will be able to enter the Temple Mount and worship the Lord there. For now, it is more important that we seek to glorify the Lord where we are and in the way currently available to us.

[Guest David Ben-Ariel]

Remember, at most there are only about 12% of jews in Israel who are religious so the Temple Mount is only a historical artifact to most of them.

Percentages vary depending on who conducted the poll and why. Regardless, God has always managed to do a lot with a chosen few: Gideon's Army, the Maccabees, etc.

Still, this is their business. The only correct response, imo, is to pray for His will to be done and not presume to know what that is exactly

It's necessary for faith and works, prayers and putting prayers into action. God hasn't left us in the dark about His Will since it's clearly revealed in His Word. He has permitted folks to offer up every excuse under the sun though to continue in the abominable status quo. Thankfully, some, stirred up by God, will help fulfill the prophecies and see to it that the Temple Mount is soon restored as the Temple Mount.

Edited April 19, 2005 by David Ben-Ariel

[Guest David Ben-Ariel]

Nebula is correct.  Moshe Dayan gave the Temple Mount back to the Muslims after the Six Day War, which was a dumb thing to do, but it was done, nevertheless.

Israel must confess and forsake such a national sin - not remain in it!

Israel is not practicing religious discrimination, but rather extreme prudence.

Wrong. Israel IS practicing religious discrimination, violating God's law and their own 1967 Law for the Protection of the Holy Places. Why be in denial of this FACT?

Many innocent Jews would be slaughtered in any ensuing riot or increased spate of terrorist attacks.  Synagogues would be bombed, and it would be an all out "street war" in Jerusalem, and other Jewish cities.

Sounds like what's ALREADY going on...

Is five minutes on the Temple Mount worth all the Jewish blood that would be spilled? 

Wrong question. Wrong perspective. What does God command? He commands Israel to build His Sanctuary. The Nazi-Muslims oppose it. Therefore the Nazi-Muslims are the enemies of God and Israel and must be treated as such.

Should Israel continue to cower before terrorist threats?

Shouldn't Israel REMOVE THE THREAT once and for all?

Would you want to live with the knowledge that your actions succeeded to do nothing but cause more heartache in God's holy city?  We are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not to be instruments of its pain, no matter how well intentioned our actions are.

Those with the "good intentions" causing pain for Israel are those "peace at any price" useful idiots who fail to learn from the Bible or history that appeasement NEVER works! Why prolong the misery? Israel must take the lead and restore the Temple Mount as the Temple Mount and remove the threat or increasingly suffer the curses for their disobedience! (Dan. 9:11).

We who follow the Messiah do not have to be as militant about the Temple Mount, because all of us, Jew and Gentile alike, are  living stones and as such, we are the Temple of the Lord.

We who follow the Messiah aren't militant about the Temple Mount - it is the Nazi-Muslims who are militant! You keep getting this backwards and upside down. Even as a part of the spiritual Temple of God, some of us (who recognize the Israelite roots of the West) know that to demand our religious rights upon the Temple Mount is good and just and in accordance with God's Word and Will. The Temple Mount must be rededicated to the biblical God of Jacob-Israel - cleansed of the filth of the crescent moon god of Ishmael!

Someday, all of us will be able to enter the Temple Mount and worship the Lord there.

Thanks to those who recognize that "all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" and repent of such inexcusable inaction and prayerfully decide to finally do all they can to help restore the Temple Mount to Jewish hands where it belongs.