The Chief Rabbinate Council decided last night that Jews cannot visit and pray on the Temple Mount and defeated a move by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren who wanted the Council to decide that Jews can pray on the site. This was the first time Goren suffered a defeat in the Council despite the fact that most of the rabbis in the Council are his supporters.
The phrasing of the decision, however, was rather vague. It stated that the Council considers that the Temple Mount is the Moriah Mountain on which the ancient and sacred Belt Hamikdash or Holy Temple was built. The decision stated further, that Israel has the right to own the Temple Mount and that the relations between the Jewish people and the mount are part of the infrastructure of Jewish belief.
The decision also stated that “the Council heard a lecture from Chief Rabbi Goren on the Temple Mount” and decided to ask him to publish his research on the Temple Mount, after which “the Council will discuss again the issue with the rabbis of Israel.”
IN LINE WITH MAJORITY OF RABBIS
Rabbinical sources told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency last night that the net effect of the decision was a rejection by the Council of Goren’s opinion. The sources noted that the fact that the Council decided to rediscuss the issue “when” Goren publishes his research and that the Council will “consult” with the “rabbis of Israel” showed that most of the Council members share the opinion of the majority of rabbis which forbids Jews to visit or pray on the Temple Mount.
Rabbinical sources also said that had the Chief Rabbinate Council decided in Goren’s favor the Council would have set itself in opposition to the opinion shared by the majority of rabbis in Israel.
There was a great deal of tension in Jerusalem the past few days as the Council’s decision was awaited since it was known in advance that Goren wanted a positive ruling regarding prayers on the Temple Mount and in view of the recent events on the West Bank which, in part, had been sparked by this issue.
Observers noted that had the Chief Rabbinate Council adopted Goren’s position it would have resulted in further unrest in the West Bank and among right-wing Jews who attempt every now and then to pray on the Temple Mount despite existing regulations which forbid it.
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