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Revava Attempts Temple Mount Raid

According to the Associated Press, 20,000 people turned out to receive the blessing of the kohanim at the kotel on Wednesday, a number of them using the cover of the crowd to stage a raid on the temple mount:

Two-thousand police officers provided security at Jerusalem’s most contested holy site, where the Al Aqsa Mosque compound now stands atop the temple ruins.
A group called the Temple Mount Faithful, which would like to reclaim the site and build a new Jewish Temple, was barred by Israeli police from entering the mosque compound.

The group responsible, Revava, has vowed to attempt such raids continually until they reach success.
The Palestinian Authority is apparently seizing upon Revava’s misguided activism, particularly a conference on rebuilding the temple held yesterday in the Old City, as an opportunity to incite further animosity towards the Jewish public, claiming on their official State Information Service website that the temple never existed.

Al Aqsa Institution for Construction of the Holy Islamic Sites said in its online edition that the Jewish extremist Revava (Myriad) movement will convene today with participation of other Jewish organizations a Torah conference centered on the ways to expedite the construction of the so -called a” third temple mount”.
[…] The conference also will underline the upcoming steps by the Jewish fanatic Reveva movement regarding the holy Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest compound for Muslims. A number of renowned hard-line rabbis against Al Aqsa as well as activists, working on for years to build the pretended “temple mount” will address the gathering.
The website of the Al Aqsa institution revealed that information leaked, referring that a massive rally would be organized nearby the door of Al Aqsa mosque next Friday noon calling for storming it and performing the Jewish religious rituals in its yards.

Aljazeera.com took extraodinary liberties with the PA’s press release, claiming that “Tens of the thousands of Jewish extremists are flooding the Aqsa Mosque under the guise of observing the Jewish Passover festival after fanatic Jewish groups failed to storm the Aqsa last April 10,” and further, that the IDF, which according to Revava, is going out of its way to prevent any such raid from taking place, is in fact facilitating the action:

“The Israeli occupation forces will pave the way for tens of thousands of Jews to gather at the Buraq plaza at the western wall of the Aqsa Mosque during daytime”, according to Israeli media sources said.

You just can’t win if you’re the IDF, huh? Really, could the Arab press’ claims get any more disingenuous? Since when is the kotel plaza a part of the Aqsa mosque? And since when is dragging Jewish extremists away from the temple mount kicking and screaming aiding them? I tell ya, such baldfaced lies don’t contribute to an easing of tensions in the area. But an easing of tensions isn’t precisely the agenda of the Arab press is it? Sigh.
As for Revava: The temple was destroyed for the sin of sinat chinam — baseless hatred. Chazzal say the only thing that will restore the temple is ahavat chinam — unconditional love. This sure sounds like ahavat chinam to me.
As I stated in my interview with Kris Krug yesterday,

In next week’s Torah portion, it is written, “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Only when we rise above our hysterical fears of the other (which I will not say are all together unfounded, which is why this is truly an immense challenge) and come to love our Palestinian neighbors unconditionally, will the nation of Israel be at peace, and God willing, all be set right in the world.

Or so I’m gladly foolish enough to believe. If only it weren’t such a lonely place to be.

23 thoughts on “Revava Attempts Temple Mount Raid

  1. “Only when we…come to love our Palestinian neighbors unconditionally, will the nation of Israel be at peace, and God willing, all be set right in the world.”
    I had almost forgotten that all the unrest in the world was the fault of the Jews’ lack of unconditional love for the Palestinian people. Sometimes, even this member of the World Zionist Conspiracy fails to acknowledge the Total Control she and her kind exerts across the globe. Thanks for putting it all into perspective.

  2. Thanks for the “revava” link under the word “This” Mobius.
    It is intriguing.
    I fully support their cause. Jewish people should be allowed to pray on our holy Temple Mount.

  3. Really, Mobius. You gotta believe the potential for love and hate is as much within the Arab nations as it is within our own. This morning you say, “I tell ya, such baldfaced lies [by Al Jazeera] don’t contribute to an easing of tensions in the area. But an easing of tensions isn’t precisely the agenda of the Arab press is it? Sigh.”
    Hey, they just give the public what it wants. It would be wise to recognize that it is not in the interest of the Arab establishments to deal fairly with Israel, and by extension to not deal with the legitimate national rights of the Jewish people (or any other of the region’s peoples, for that matter) in what is considered the “Arab world.” Under such circumstances, unrequitred unconditional love is national suicide.
    Any diminishing expections for unconditional love from within the Jewish world is so obviously not the major obstacle to its realization that reminding us of it comes off as so much cynical patronizing.

  4. Never existed? Ok, um that’s kind of a crazy statement to make. If the temple never existed then wtf are the ruins? Is the wall just a wall from something else? was the mount always just a mount? It’s one thing to be a crazy extremist nut. It’s twice as bad to be an extremist nut who believes things despite contrary physical evidence, particularly large evidence in this case.
    Also, while I was dissapointed about not being able to visit the mount when I went to Israel in 2000 I don’t think my desire to take a peek at some ancient rocks is worth fighting over. Sure, if you kill the palenstinians they wont be able to prevent you from visiting it anymore. But if you make friends they might be nice enough to let you in. Sharing and visiting peacfully with each other is a thing friends do. Let’s work towards that.

  5. Of course there is physical evidence but we don’t even need to come on to that.
    Our parents and parent’s parents all through the ages testify to us our history and about the Temple mount where King Solomon built the temple. This is known theoughout the world because it is history.
    Those who deny history are similar to holocaust deniers a generation after when there is no living witness to ask.

  6. Who knows
    “Recent archeological digs have provided evidence that Jerusalem was a big and fortified city already in 1800 BCE…Findings show that the sophisticated water system heretofor attributed to the conquering Israelites pre-dated them by eight centuries and was even more sophisticated than imagined…Dr. Ronny Reich, who directed the excavation along with Eli Shuikrun, said the entire system was built as a single complex by Canaanites in the Middle Bronze Period, around 1800 BCE.”
    The Jewish Bulletin, July 31st, 1998.

  7. Joe Schmo,
    The article quoted by John Brown above illustrates fairly clearly why it is not the best idea to rely on theology to support arguments for Zionism. While religious articles of faith are wildly subjective, history, antrhopology, and archeology are much more objective, and thus lend their scientific substance to the inherent justice behind the viability of Jewish national self-determination in the only homeland the Jewish people have ever known. Without the baggage of theological orthodoxy, I can reply to any exploitation of the forementioned archeological record for the sake of diminishing the authenticity of the Jewish claim to national rights in Israel with a firm “So what”? Likewise, none of that precludes you or me or the next Jew from any level of observance of Judaism we can stand.
    Keynahora, we have our state, we are in as much control of our own national destiny as any other nation in the world. We can get on with the hard work of asserting the social, political, and economic reintegration of the Jewish people in our native region with all the national dignity it deserves.

  8. Right, so Revava is crazy, the PA isn’t helping things, and Al Jazera is making it even worse. So many nuts, so little time. Yes, the Arab press is exploiting Jewish zealots, that is not cool. None-the-less it doesn’t get Israelis off the hook. We cannot rely on either archeological or theological evidence for Jewish domination. History is not destiny. Given Israeli military superiority (and the on going occupation). Baseless love (or at least granting of democratic rights) is possible. I’m not sure this is what Mobi was referring to. I think it is more plausible and more moral than loving each other.

  9. there’s more about that dig at jewishsf.com:
    “Gideon Avni, a Jerusalem archaeologist, said earlier this month that the entire concept on the City of David, the core of Jerusalem’s Old City, would now have to be changed.”

  10. Quote:
    The priorities of the Israeli government and Police are clear. They are more than willing to bring in reinforcements from all over Israel to provide security for a 10 day gay festival which polls show 76% of Jerusalem’s residents are against, an unprecedented insult to the religious communities of all faiths and a defilement of the Holy City, “The Palace of the King”, but when a few thousand Jews ask quietly to be allowed merely to VISIT one of their holy sites, the police slam the door in their face and claim that “the risk of violence” is too great to allow the event. They are unwilling to even allow a rally OUTSIDE the Temple Mount demanding religious freedom for Jews at the site.
    ———————– ———–
    The guy has a point, a very good one.

  11. “Chazzal say the only thing that will restore the temple is ahavat chinam — unconditional love.”
    ROTFL!
    Where and when did Chazal say that !?
    Can you quote a source?
    Sounds like you confuse them with John Lennon….

  12. PS. And i’m sure webmasters of a “jewish” site which bolsters pr0n, very much care for what Chazal say… Hypocrits.

  13. Mob, a stranger to be respected is a ger toshav who respects the 7 noachide laws:
    1. Believe in one G-D , Do not worship idols
    2. Respect G-D and praise Him , Do not blaspheme
    3. Respect human life , Do not commit murder
    4. Respect the rights of others and their property , Do not steal
    5. Respect the sanctity of the family, do not commit incest or adultery
    6. Respect all living creatures , Do not eat the flesh taken from a living animal
    7. Establish courts of Justice , Pursue Justice

    I don’t want to generalize, but it’s hard not to when the Arab opinion polls continually show that a majority of them don’t believe in the 7 noachide laws.

  14. This is a fabricated story.
    You (or the AP) are trying to make it sound like 20,000 Israelis tried to enter the Temple mount over the Passover holiday.
    Didn’t happen.
    Of course large crowds came to the Western Wall over the Passover holiday – it is one of the 3 big pilgrimage holidays, and many Jerusalemites make a point of praying at the Wall at least one morning during the festival.
    The Revava organization tried to enter the mount A WEEK BEFORE this news report. The police revoked their protest permit. Word got out, and nobody showed up (so much for those crazy religious fanatics who don’t respect the Rule of Law).
    All of 50 people showed up, and gave the press their obligatory photo of “fanatic being dragged away by police”.
    This was all reported TWO WEEKS AGO – search the NY Times or Jerusalem Post for “Temple Mount” – it all dates back to April 11.
    This is someone’s feeble attempt to fabricate a story – or breathe a little more life into the dying lie of “crazy Jewish militants.
    Pathetic.

  15. LJN: I had almost forgotten that all the unrest in the world was the fault of the Jews’ lack of unconditional love for the Palestinian people. Sometimes, even this member of the World Zionist Conspiracy fails to acknowledge the Total Control she and her kind exerts across the globe. Thanks for putting it all into perspective.
    When I voice a secular opinion, I’m anti-Jewish. When I voice a religious opinion, I’m a fundamentalist. Whatever. Hate on hater, cuz clearly no position I take will be one which satisfies you.
    I’m curious as to your Jewish identification actually. Is it a Jewish parent? A Jewish practice? Is it ethnic, is it religious, is it both, is it neither? You clearly don’t believe in the idea of chosenness and its implications for redemption, so I’m curious as to your view of Judaism or Jewishness.
    Schmo: I fully support their cause. Jewish people should be allowed to pray on our holy Temple Mount.
    A) You are not allowed on the Temple Mount if you have not been purified by the ashes of a red heifer. We speculate that we know where the aron kodesh was kept, but we really do not. If you’re willing to risk karet, be my guest. I’d rather not.
    B) Jewish people should be allowed to worship freely, I agree. At the same time, when you’re going up on the Temple Mount to pray, “Please God restore the temple speedily in our days,” what you’re saying to the Muslims up there praying is, “Please God, knock this fucking mosque down.” If you don’t think that’ll spark a race riot, you’re a fool. If you WANT to spark a race riot, then fuck you, you certainly have no right to pray there.
    Zionista: Really, Mobius. You gotta believe the potential for love and hate is as much within the Arab nations as it is within our own. […] unrequitred unconditional love is national suicide.
    Unconditional love is not contigent on the condition that we are loved back. And having unconditional love for someone does not submitting to your own death. You can have love and empathy for a person who disagree with. Read the Bhagavad Gita. Prince Arjuna loved his brother deeply and unconditionally. At the end of the day, he knew he still had to fight him.
    Schmo: Our parents and parent’s parents all through the ages testify to us our history and about the Temple mount where King Solomon built the temple. This is known theoughout the world because it is history.
    Funny, because there’s a mesorah I heard passed down from the Chofetz Chaim that the site we regard as the Temple Mount isn’t the actual Temple Mount. We were merely told it was so that we wouldn’t defile the actual site which is located elsewhere in Jerusalem.
    Yusul: Right, so Revava is crazy, the PA isn’t helping things, and Al Jazera is making it even worse. So many nuts, so little time. Yes, the Arab press is exploiting Jewish zealots, that is not cool. None-the-less it doesn’t get Israelis off the hook. We cannot rely on either archeological or theological evidence for Jewish domination. History is not destiny. Given Israeli military superiority (and the on going occupation). Baseless love (or at least granting of democratic rights) is possible.
    At least someone gets it.
    Normal: ROTFL! Where and when did Chazal say that !? Can you quote a source?
    I can quote every shiur I’ve ever heard on Tisha B’av. If you want a textual source, I’ll seek it out. But it’s without a doubt part of our oral tradition, and a basic search of the term “ahavat chinam” on Google will demonstrate this quite clearly.
    Normal: And i’m sure webmasters of a “jewish” site which bolsters pr0n, very much care for what Chazal say… Hypocrits.
    Another jackmo who ignored the explaination of antinomianism. I care very much what chazzal said. Doesn’t mean I agree with everything they said, but it definitely matters to me.
    josh: Mob, a stranger to be respected is a ger toshav who respects the 7 noachide laws […] I don’t want to generalize, but it’s hard not to when the Arab opinion polls continually show that a majority of them don’t believe in the 7 noachide laws.
    Islamic law is in full accordance with the seven Noachide laws, though Not every Palestinian is a practicing Muslim, and not every practicing Muslim is a righteous Muslim. You are generalizing however. I’d argue most Palestinians have never violated the Noachide laws. And you can not blame an entire nation for the actions of a minority of its inhabitants, even if that minority is a sizeable one.
    Ben David: This is a fabricated story. You (or the AP) are trying to make it sound like 20,000 Israelis tried to enter the Temple mount over the Passover holiday.
    No I’m not. I said 20,000 people showed up for the Kohan’s blessing and “a number” (ie., a few) tried to use the opportunity to stage a raid on the Temple Mount. I fully acknowledge Revava’s previous attempt to raid the Temple Mount is a separate incident, and if I did not make that distinction more clearly I apologize.
    Also, PLENTY more than 50 people showed up. I had a friend who was there covering the incident for Maariv, so please don’t even give me that shit.
    This is someone’s feeble attempt to fabricate a story – or breathe a little more life into the dying lie of “crazy Jewish militants.”
    Dying lie my ass. You know what’s pathetic? Your apologetics.

  16. ye gods mobius keep strong my friend, never give up the good fight, jeez guys if you don’t see the light that mobius shines then y’all gonna stay blind.
    from an arabist that would convert to judaism if only there was more than one mobius.

  17. Mobius: “Unconditional love is not contigent on the condition that we are loved back. And having unconditional love for someone does not submitting to your own death. You can have love and empathy for a person who disagree with. Read the Bhagavad Gita. Prince Arjuna loved his brother deeply and unconditionally. At the end of the day, he knew he still had to fight him.”
    I can appreciate how unconditional love could work well enough as a personal lifestyle, perhaps. But we are dealing here with politics at an international level. Reason is the ultimate necessity for reconciliation between competing interests. So far, I fail to see what unconditional love has to do with reason, and how love becomes necessary for reconciling the competing national interests of Jews and Palestinian Arabs.

  18. Mobius “A) You are not allowed on the Temple Mount if you have not been purified by the ashes of a red heifer. ”
    -There are places on the mount that are permitted and places that are forbidden. Any permitted place should be gone to.
    Mobius “to pray ‘Please God restore the temple speedily in our days’, what you’re saying to the Muslims up there praying is, “Please God, knock this fucking mosque down.”
    — Amen! So, you don’t even like our prayers to rebuild the temple we have been praying for 2000 years.
    Now I’m beginning to understand you.
    Mobius: “Funny, because there’s a mesorah I heard passed down from the Chofetz Chaim that the site we regard as the Temple Mount isn’t the actual Temple Mount.”
    –Funny because I never heard of such a “mesorah” – I’m sure you would like us to believe also that Israel is not really Israel and that the “real” Israel is in Africa somewhere – maybe Uganda.

  19. When I voice a secular opinion, I’m anti-Jewish. When I voice a religious opinion, I’m a fundamentalist. Whatever. Hate on hater, cuz clearly no position I take will be one which satisfies you.
    Huh?
    I’m curious as to your Jewish identification actually. Is it a Jewish parent? A Jewish practice? Is it ethnic, is it religious, is it both, is it neither? You clearly don’t believe in the idea of chosenness and its implications for redemption, so I’m curious as to your view of Judaism or Jewishness.
    Wha?

  20. well joe, some days i pray for the restoration of the temple and some days i don’t. some days i think the destruction of the temple was the best thing to happen to us. and some days i think we really need it.
    as per that tradition from the chofetz chaim, i’ve only heard it kicked around a couple of times. i don’t think it’s a mainstream belief. but it’s one that’s out there.

  21. “some days i think the destruction of the temple was the best thing to happen to us. ”
    –no comment

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