Rabbi Shimon Ba’adani, a member of the Sefardi haredi Shas Party’s Council of Torah Sages, told a radio audience last night that the increased number of Jews, especially members of Knesset, who have gone up to the Temple Mount is responsible for sparking the current wave of Palestinian terror attacks and violence against Jews.
Above: Rabbi Shimon Ba’adani
Jews Visiting The Temple Mount Caused Latest Round Of Palestinian Terror Attacks, Shas Rabbi Says
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Rabbi Shimon Ba’adani, a member of the Sefardi haredi Shas Party’s Council of Torah Sages, told a radio audience last night that the increased number of Jews, especially members of Knesset, who have gone up to the Temple Mount is responsible for sparking the current wave of Palestinian terror attacks and violence against Jews, Ha’aretz reported.
"Of course this [Jews visiting the Temple Mount] sparked all the current tumult," Ba’adani told Radio Kol Barama. "Do not provoke the nations,” Ba’adani continued, “even if we are in control here, there is a halakha [not to go up on the Temple Mount due to our lack of ritual purity, a ruling made by the late supreme spiritual leader of Shas, former Chief Rabbi of Israel Ovadia Yosef]. I don't know on whose authority they permit themselves to provoke and cause an armed struggle like is happening now…they are forbidden. There may be other reasons, but that certainly aroused them.”
Ba’adani also pointed out that saving life trumps any mitzvah. So “why enter the Temple Mount [when you know it will provoke violence and likely endanger the lives of Jews]?” Ba’adani asked.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered members of his cabinet and all members of Knesset to stay off the Temple Mount.
Visiting the Temple Mount has become a totem of sorts for right-wing Zionist Orthodox rabbis and their followers.