Religious Fanatics Must Not Get Our Sympathy

Arresting worshipers (Arutz Sheva archives)

Allahu Akbar! God is Great! That is the almost universal battle cry by Islamist terrorists before they blow themselves up among a group of innocent people. The idea is that they are doing this for God. They are literally Moser Nefesh (martyring themselves) in the ‘Kiddush HaShem’ of killing infidels (or even fellow Muslims if necessary) for the greater cause of Islam.

I doubt that there is a civilized person anywhere in the world including mainstream Islam that approves of such a tactic. Even as it is being done for the purest of religious reasons. There might be some sympathy among mainstream Muslims for their cause. But not for their tactics.

These thoughts came to mind when I read about some Religious Zionist fanatics that took it upon themselves to violate Israeli law by going up to Har HaBayis (the Temple Mount) and pray screaming, ‘God is the Lord’.

I realize that a lot of Religious Zionists support the idea of allowing Jews to pray at Israel’s holiest site. They probably agree with these fanatics asserting those rights. And occasionally go up to Har HaBayis themselves.

Although I am a big supporter of Israel and realize that in theory any Jew should have the religious right to do that, I am disgusted by those who assert those rights against the law - inflaming the anger of  Muslims praying at that site. An anger that often results in innocent Jews being hurt in the process. Not to mention the fact that the world is watching and sees them for the religious fanatics they are.

First, there are religious reasons for opposing such activity. Without going into too much detail, one is not allowed to go into the area where the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple)  stood while in a state of Tumah (ritual impurity). It is considered a serious sin to do so. In our day, since we do not fully have the means to become ritually pure, we are considered to be in a perpetual state of Tumah.  

That said, there are areas of Har HaBayis that we know were definitely not part of the actual Beis Hamikdash that we may technically be permitted to be on. But most Poskim agree that since the lines of demarcation are not clear, it should be avoided and they therefore forbid going up there at all.

However, there are some Religious Zionist Poskim that say that even though those lines are uncertain there are areas beyond those lines that are surely not were the actual Beis HaMikdsh stood and they do permit going up there.

I think they are wrong. I agree with the Poskim that forbid it. I understand the religious desire to go up to Har HaBayis and pray. It can surely be a highly inspiring spiritual experience. But even though there are Poskim that permit it, in my view it is not worth the price. Especially when prayer is involved.

But that is not my only problem. If it were, I would not approve but I would not protest. What I protest is the violation of the law that forbids Jews to pray on the Temple Mount.. A law that is in place for a good reason. As things stand now, we do not control things up there (much as we’d like to). Muslims do. It is one of their holiest places too. That’s why there is a mosque built over the area there that most Poskim believe to be the Makom HaMizbeach (Alter).

Clearly the devout Muslims that go up there to pray in that mosque are not happy being there under Israeli rule. But since they have almost complete autonomy and control, the arrangement seems to be working. 

When Jews go up there to pray going in order to to satisfy a spiritual urge - It is seen by Muslim clerics and their faithful as a challenge to that control. Unchecked, it  can and often does end up with violent responses by some of the Muslims up there. Sometimes accompanied by  cries from Palestinian leaders that Israel is trying to destroy their mosque and rebuild the Temple. 

So when these fanatics go up there with a claim that all they want to do is pray, I tend to think it is a lot more than that. They are the kind of people who believe that we actually should destroy their mosque and take back Har Habayis. By force if necessary! 

Which would be a disaster of epic proportion if  attempted before the advent of Moshiach. Now I don’t know if these fanatics would go that far. But they are cut from the same cloth and probably believe it would be the right thing to do.

They may be sincere religious Jews. They may believe that they are doing it for God. And that they are making a Kiddush HaShem in the process. That’s probably why they declared ‘God is the Lord’. Same reason a Muslim declares God is great when he thinks he is making a Kiddush HaShem while martyring himself.

Now before anyone gets outraged by my comparison of Jews praying on Har HaBayis and suicide bombers, let me make one thing absolutely clear. There is absolutely no comparison in scale. Obviously killing innocent people is an infinitely greater evil than illegally  praying at a site considered to be holy and thereby spiking anger among Muslims praying there and inciting riots .

Attorney Nati Rom (Arutz Sheva)

But while there is no comparison to be made in degree, there is a comparison to be made in motive. Which is a religious fanaticism that is willing to break the law, regardless of the consequences to others. These fanatics know how their actions will end up and they do it anyway. Because like their fanatic Muslim counterparts, the greater goal is worth the ‘price’ being paid. I believe that their real goal is not merely about allowing prayer on the Temple Mount. It is to gain public sympathy for their cause (and a first step toward their ultimate goal of retaking Har HaBayis). That is made obvious by the statement made by their attorney, Nati Rom:

"I expect human rights organizations and anyone who cares about our democracy to do as much as they can to allow Jews freedom of worship and freedom of expression in the capital city Jerusalem. This is a fundamental violation of the values of human rights, freedom of worship, and democracy. This ongoing injury must be stopped immediately." 

I suspect that a lot of people might agree they should be given that right. But as things stand now, I am not one of them. They should instead be treated like the criminals they are. Criminals that are willing to incite Arab anger resulting in riots that can (and have) harmed innocent Jews. They ought not celebrated as the martyrs they believe themselves to be. Nor should they even get any sympathy  

I am disgusted by these people who believe their fanatic version of Judaism allows them to ignore a law designed to protect their fellow citizens. I am glad they were arrested. They ought to be prosecuted and given the maximum sentence allowed by law.