Jewish Activists Arrested Trying to Enter Temple Mount for Banned Passover Sacrifice

[Israeli]

Kach activist Noam Federman, who tries to perform sacrifice on the Temple Mount every year, among the arrested.

Nir Hasson Apr 24, 2016

Jewish activists pushing for a third temple in Jerusalem attempted to ascend the Temple Mount carrying baby goats intended to be used as Passover sacrifices on Friday afternoon, as they do every year. Jerusalem police detained ten suspects in the Old City for interrogation, and seized four sacrificial goat kids.

Among those arrested were Kach activist Noam Federman, who attempts make the sacrifice every year, and Rafael Morris, an activist in the Temple Mount Faithful movement. The two were banned from entering Jerusalem before the holiday and will be questioned about breaching the ban. “No ban will keep us from fulfilling this important religious injunction,” said Morris shortly before being arrested. “Regrettably, the Passover sacrifice is a rite that has been forgotten. If they want to arrest me they’ll need more than a ban.” The police also detained three minors who were in possession of a young goat. According to the Temple Mount Faithful, dozens of other activists took part in the attempted sacrifice. For them, making such an offering on Passover is of the utmost importance.

Last Monday the group held their annual Passover sacrifice practice ceremony on Mount Scopus, with a view of the Temple Mount. Hundreds of people took part, including MK Miki Zohar (Likud).

Jerusalem police strengthened forces around the Temple Mount and the Old City out of concern for increased tensions during the holiday season. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to visit the city. Many Jewish visitors are expected to visit the Temple Mount, which could lead to violent protests by Muslim residents. The priestly blessing ceremony will take place tomorrow at the Western Wall plaza, with tens of thousands of attendees expected. Tensions usually peak around the time of the event. “We are carefully balancing the needs of all three religions in order to enable freedom of prayer and worship, while ensuring everyone’s safety and wellbeing,” said the police in a statement. “We expect public conduct during this period to show tolerance and mutual respect.”

Nir Hasson
Haaretz Correspondent

Source: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.716008

[azurnoir]

1. They did this last year too - same result

I guess some stuff never changes

[Israeli]

2. Its worse this year azurnoir......

see : http://972mag.com/temple-mount-activists-practice-sacrifice-in-east-jerusalem/118763/

This reflects the growth and broadened appeal of the Temple movement in recent years. What had been a fringe and mostly settler movement now attracts a younger generation, as well as Rabbis and politicians from the Israeli mainstream-right including Mickey Zohar of Likud. The movement is growing despite longstanding Rabbinic rulings prohibiting Jews to enter the Temple Mount or to attempt to bring about the building of a third Temple by secular means. Temple activists are defiant in the face of political opposition to increasing the conflict around the Haram al-Sharif/ Temple Mount; like Evangelical Christian Zionists, they see war as a necessary or even welcome precursor to the coming of the Messiah.

[azurnoir]

6. This is disturbing

The practice run was co-ordinated by dozens of groups from the Temple Mount Movement, with a broad range of religious backgrounds and political strategies represented. There are those that call for the violent destruction of Muslim sites of worship; others work within the remit of Israeli law and deploy a civil and religious rights rhetoric to expand Jewish prayer access to the the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif). However the distinctions between these camps are not always clear cut.
Alongside Religious Zionists there were many Haredim or Hardalim (Haredi Dati Leumi) as well as less stringent masorti, ‘traditional’ Jews. Youth movements and student organizations were present, such as Students for Har Habayit; these play a significant role in spreading the culture of the Temple movement throughout the year. There were also many individuals and families who are not activists but curious supporters looking for an interactive and educational day out with their children.

[King_David]

7. Palestinian's Hamas Killing the commander recently because he was Gay is far more disturbing

than Jews wanting to pray and wanting to BBQ on the Temple Mount.

[AllyCat]

3. Animal sacrifice. How godly.

Not.

[jtuck004]

4. Bar-B-Q on the Mount. n/t

[elljay]

5. Difficult Subject

Most Jews have no desire to return to animal sacrifices. On the other hand, we do feel the sting of abuse by Islam and Christianity in denying us our history. Much as I don't want to see my family (we are Cohanim- high priests) killing sheep, I resent Our being banned from our holiest historical site by first Roman, then Christian, then Muslim invaders who still deny our connection to the land. This tension will continue as long as Islam maintains its culture of superiority to preexisting religions and religious Jews fight back against the offense. Some middle ground is needed but not seeming likely.

[6chars]

8. Jews arrested because Israeli justice treats everyone equally