Court approves of silent Jewish prayer on Temple Mount
For the first time since Jewish prayer returned to the Temple Mount, following a court approval which gave it legal standing.
Al Aqsa Mosque on Temple Mount. Jerusalem. Photo by Sami Solmaz/TPS
Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court Justice Bilha Yahalom accepted on Wednesday an appeal by Rabbi Aryeh Lippo against the police’s ban on his visits to the Temple Mount and ordered it to shorten the ban and allow him to return to his prayers there. He was initially banned by the police for his practice of praying on the Temple Mount.
“His daily arrival at the Temple Mount indicates that this is a matter of principle and substance for him,” she noted.
During the hearing, the court watched a video documenting the Jews’ prayer on the Temple Mount, and according to the court, a silent prayer on the Temple Mount does not violate the police’s guidelines on the issue.
“The respondent does not dispute that the appellant, like many others, prays on a daily basis on the Temple Mount and this activity in itself does not violate police instructions,” Judge Yahalom noted.
Jewish worshippers are currently enabled only limited access in time and space during their visits to the Temple Mount.
Temple Mount organizations welcomed the ruling which recognizes and approves of “the positive process that is going on the Temple Mount.”
Activist Assaf Fried stated that “Israel’s return to the Temple Mount is an existing and intensifying fact. After the police, the court also recognizes this and gives it its legal approval.”
Shai Glick, CEO of the B’Tsalmo rights organization, stated that he is sure that from now on the Israel Police will understand and implement the court ruling and the prayers will continue as normal.
For those Jews who rely on the minority of rabbinic authorities who halachically permit Jewish access to the Temple Mount, it is unconscionable that they should be limited in any way in how they pray. It would appear that even according to the updated regulations a Jew can daven a silent prayer but cannot articulate a Shema Yisrael. He can say a “toda raba” to his friend but he cannot intone a “mizmor le-toda” to the One Above. Absurd beyond belief!