"And he [Jacob] dreamed, and behold a ladder fixed firmly on the ground, and the top of it reaches to heaven;

and behold the angels of G-d ascending and descending on it." (Gen. 28/12) "R' Elazar in the name of R' Yosi ben Zimra said: 'This ladder stands in Be'er Sheva, and the middle of its incline reaches the Mikdash." (Gen. Raba 29/7) Activity concerning the Temple Mount has been focused in two main areas: 1) "fixed firmly on the ground" the struggle for equality on the part of Jews who wish to ascend the Temple Mount according to Torah law to pray and revere the site, in keeping with what our sages said regarding the Temple Mount: "even though it was destroyed the site remains holy". 2) "reaches to heaven" preparations for the third Temple, including the holy vessels and the priestly garments. In recent years there has been increasing public interest in these two foci of acitivity. More Jews are visiting the Temple Mount and there is growing consensus regarding the areas on the Temple Mount which are permissible for entry according to Jewish law. Similarly, the increased production of vessels and garments by the Temple Institute inspires awe. Yet there is a rung on "the middle of this ladder that reaches the Mikdash" which cannot be skipped: the establishment of a synagogue on the Temple Mount. This stage is essential for a number of reasons: A graduated ascent to the ultimate goal For an individual, and for a community as well, the peak of spirituality and holiness are not achieved in a single leap. Our enormous aspiration for the Mikdash is achievable when it develops out of continual, incremental progress on the ladder which ascends to heaven, and for us this now means a "small Mikdash", that is, a synagogue. A focal point on the Temple Mount to which all Jews will be drawn A majority of Jews today, even religious Jews, have difficulty relating to the concepts of Mikdash. In time, and with the holy work of the Temple Institute and other organizations helping to raise our consciousness, it will be easier. On the other hand, praying in a synagogue on the Temple Mount does not demand from us a revolution in our consciousness, but our presence in a synagogue on the Temple Mount will in itself create a revolution in our consciousness and prepare us for our evolution to the next stage in our ultimate quest of rebuilding the Mikdash.

2/ Harav Tzvi Yehuda 13c, Jerusalem 96103 yaacov.hayman@gmail.com

Tel. 972-72-2325714 Fax 972-72-2325718 Cell 972-52-3468637

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Israeli sovereignty on the Temple Mount Forty-six years after the liberation of Jerusalem, and much to our disgrace, there is still no sign of Israeli sovereignty on the Temple Mount. The exact opposite is the case those who de facto "own" the Temple Mount are the enemies of Israel who day by day do everything in their power to erase all connections, historical or otherwise, between the Jews and the Temple Mount. Establishing a synagogue on the Temple Mount will be the first step towards rectifying this intolerable situation. A fixed anchor for the Jewish people on the Temple Mount Even though there are growing numbers of Jews ascending the Temple Mount, we are only "permitted" to enter three hours per day, and subjected to degrading, discriminatory conditions. A qualitative change is needed, not just a quantitative one. Our presence on the Temple Mount must be continuous, without the slightest moment of disconnection between us and our holiest place. A synagogue on the Temple Mount will create an entirely new reality, with our continuous presence, day and night, to pray, study Torah and strengthen our connection to the Temple Mount and our sovereignty. We will no longer accept less The current demand to allow Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount must be accompanied by an unequivocal, uncompromising demand for a large and impressive synagogue, with ritual purity baths and a number of prayer and study halls. We must no longer tolerate having to get permission from the "sultan" just to stand on the outside and look in. We must no longer tolerate the ever-present supervision of the Moslem Wakf and the Israeli police at our every step, lest we move our lips in prayer. The precedent for a synagogue on the Temple Mount The idea of a synagogue on the Temple Mount is not new. Even when the Temple stood there were synagogues on the mount, as documented in the tractates of Succah and Yoma in the Talmud. Also in our generation tzaddikim have called for synagogue on the Temple Mount (Rav Yechiel Michel Tichochinski, Rav Shlomo Goren, Rav Mordechai Elyahu). So how should we proceed? The financial resources needed for the project are clearly formidable. However, the immediate objective is to garner the political support essential to making this a project of national priority. For this to happen, we must first enter the minds and hearts of the Jewish people and reignite the longing to return to the heart of our national home and to the elevation of holiness that is hidden behind the veil of 2,000 years of exile. The entire nation must be united around and connected to this mission in order to generate the courage and fortitude that will be neither ignorable nor containable. "and Yishai begot David." We believe and pray that the establishment of a synagogue on the Temple Mount will hasten the building of the Third Temple which will stand forever "the tribes of Israel united" speedily in our day. Amen.

Harav Tzvi Yehuda 13c, Jerusalem 96103

yaacov.hayman@gmail.com

Tel. 972-72-2325714 Fax 972-72-2325718 Cell 972-52-3468637