Jews Visit Temple Mount
Over 1,000 Jews visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem yesterday on Tisha B’Av, the day of mourning over the destruction of the two holy Temples. According to an umbrella group of Temple organizations, a new daily record was set with 1,263 Jews visiting the holy site on Tuesday. This is the first time since the 1967 Six-Day War the number of Jewish visitors has surpassed 1,000. Thousands more were at the Western Wall.

Many rabbis consider visiting the Temple Mount to be a religious prohibition. Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, remarked that the visitors were “desecrating the site’s holiness. Particularly today, on Tisha B’AV, the day the Temple was destroyed, it is my obligation to once again mention visiting the Temple Mount is forbidden according to Halacha.”

For further reading click here.

Chief Rabbi Speaks
In an interview with Haredi newspaper Kikar Hashabbat on Tisha B’av (yesterday), Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi David Lau spoke out forcefully against the attacking or maligning of IDF soldiers by Haredi extremists.

He said, “The Ninth of Av is the day our Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. The first Temple was destroyed because we distanced ourselves from the Creator of the world. The second Temple was destroyed because we distanced ourselves from each other, because of baseless hatred. Because we saw the humiliation of someone who came to a meal – scholars saw it and remained silent – and no one said a word.”

“Today we are trying to fix that. Certainly, we will not repeat the sins we did previously. We stand here, trying to increase love and friendship. All of these actions towards IDF soldiers, towards those who chose a different path than the ones who scream at them – no one has the right to scream at soldiers or to hurt them, their wives, their children, or their families. Such actions are severe and require all of us to stand and say together, ‘This is not the Torah’s way!’ We are permitted – we must – speak to each other, not yell at each other.”

For further reading click here.

Jerusalem of Old [Video]
This is a rare video of Jerusalem taken in 1918. In it you can see Jewish men and women praying at the Western Wall (kotel). You’ll notice that it is only a tiny fraction of the size of the wall that we know today. No, the wall didn’t get any bigger. It’s just that the houses that were built up against the length of of it were taken down after Israel liberated the area in 1967 and built an open plaza next to it to allow people to come and worship.

The Western Wall actually extends much further, through the Muslim quarter of the Old City, but it is currently only visible from an underground tunnel that you can visit and walk through.

The video also includes footage of the Old City, Rachel’s Tomb, Absolom’s Sepulcher and other interesting scenes.

To watch the video click here.

Tisha B’av
Tisha B’av, the 9th day in the month of Av, commemorates the date that both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed, first by the Babylonians in 586 BC and then by the Romans in 70 AD. Tisha B’av will be observed tonight (Monday) and Tuesday (until sundown) with fasting, reciting lamentations, and other displays of mourning. In Israel most restaurants and entertainment venues are closed.

The Talmud attributes the reason for the destruction of the Second Temple to baseless hatred. The political and social situation in Israel at the time of the destruction was rife was infighting and strife. Instead of focusing on fighting the Romans, the various Jewish factions fought and killed each other before finally uniting to face the Romans, when it was already much too late. Had the Jews been united, perhaps the destruction, even the war itself, could have been avoided.

The destruction of the Second Temple marked the start of a close to 2,000 year period of statelessness and exile, filled with persecution and massacres, and culminating in the ultimate horror of the Holocaust.

Now we have returned to our homeland, reestablished our sovereignty over it (more or less, despite the efforts of most of the world to keep us vulnerable) and made it thrive. We have a second chance to correct the mistakes we made the first time around. If we can unite and exist in (relative) harmony, we can remain invincible in our land forever.

This is the message, and challenge, of Tisha B’av, and why we continue to commemorate the day of our greatest defeat (what other nation commemorates defeat?).

Will we learn our lesson and correct the mistake of Tisha B’av? That’s a question that only we can answer.

May this be the last Tisha B’av we commemorate, and may we come together as one family, one people, in unity and harmony, to continue to build our homeland and our destiny in peace.

For more information about Tisha B’av click here (Chabad.org).

IDF Adapting
As technical continues to play a greater role in modern warfare and the type of potential conflicts in the region evolve, the IDF is planning on making major changes to adapt.

To read a (very) long article explaining the changes being planned by the IDF, click here.

Appeal Rejected
The Military Court of Appeals yesterday rejected both appeals in the Elor Azaria trial, upholding the manslaughter conviction and 18-month sentence given to the former soldier who shot dead a neutralized Palestinian terrorist during his IDF service in Hebron.

Defense Minister Lieberman has urged the family not to file further appeals but to instead ask for a pardon from IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. PM Netanyahu seems to agree with Lieberman. Eisenkot said yesterday that any request for appeal to him would be “seriously considered.”

For further reading click here. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4996455,00.html

Pizza Defense [Video]
What do you do when a terrorist attacks you in your pizza shop? When a Palestinian terrorist stabbed a bus driver last week in Shlomi Madar’s pizza store in Petah Tikva and then tried to stab him, Shlomi fought back.

To watch what Shalom Madar did, click here.

Final Gift
Last week 19 year old Ofek Klugman, a member of an elite IDF command unit, died in Rmabam Hospital in Haifa as a result of injuries sustained in a bike accident. His family decided to donate his organs to save the lives of others.

Klugman’s heart was implanted in a 65 year old man. His liver went to a 51 year old man. Both of his lungs went to a 35 year old woman. One of his kidneys went to a 47 year old man and other to a 15 year old boy. All of those who received the transplants are reported to be in good condition.

Klugman, from Nazareth Illit, was an Israeli boxing champion who chose to serve in an IDF combat unit rather than in a special unit where he could continue his boxing training.

In his death, he managed to save five lives.

For further reading click here.

House Reoccupied
Around a hundred settlers have moved into the Machpela House in Hebron. The ownership of the house has been disputed. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim ownership over the five story structure.

The group’s spokesman Shlomo Levinger said the decision to occupy the structure was made in response to “government zig-zagging” regarding violence surrounding the Temple Mount.

PM Netanyahu has ordered the Defense Minister not to evict the settlers (for the time being).

Jews were evicted from the building in 2012, when the Civil Administration claimed that they did not have sufficient evidence to prove ownership.

For further reading click here.

Shin Bet Speaks
Shin Bet (Israel’s version of the FBI) Director Nadav Argaman expressed his approval of the cabinet decision to remove the Temple Mount metal detectors and cameras. He said, “Against the complicated and emotional background of the Temple Mount site, the cabinet decision balances many complicated considerations and it was the most appropriate decision for the security of the state and its citizens.”

Not all Israeli security officials agree. During the cabinet meeting, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh warned, “If we surrender to this baseless claim of logic and remove the metal detectors and cameras, it will only give the Waqf an appetite for success.” He also claimed that without metal detectors the situation will deteriorate further and all other inspection methods will only be more invasive. Both the IDF and Shin Bet urged the government to remove the metal detectors in order to avoid the risk of a third intifada.

According to a Channel 2 News poll published yesterday, 77 percent of participants responded “yes” when asked whether the removal of the metal detectors constituted capitulation, while 17 percent said “no” and six percent said they didn’t know.

When asked whether it was the right decision to place the metal detectors at the entrances to the Temple Mount in the first place, 68 percent said “yes,” 23 percent said “no” and nine percent said they didn’t know.

Regardless of Israel’s moves to diffuse the situation, the Palestinians, lead by the Waqf, have rejected any new security arrangements and continue to order worshippers not to enter the Temple Mount. Last night thousands gathered for prayer outside the Lion’s Gate. After prayers some worshippers threw rocks and bottles at police.

Palestinian leaders are calling for large demonstrations outside the Temple Mount on Friday.

For further reading click here.

Terrorist Corpses
Israel’s Supreme Court yesterday ordered police to return the bodies of the three terrorists who murdered two Israeli policemen outside the Temple Mount to their families for burial. The funerals will be held at the Farouk Mosque in Umm al-Fahm (in northern Israel), where the three terrorists are from.

The court allowed police to set restrictions to the funerals to ensure public order and prevent clashes and violent rioting.The police have insisted that the funerals be held in the middle of the night with a limited amount of participants, but the families have refused to commit to those terms.

For further reading click here.

No Entry
The Israeli Government has cracked down on enforcing a law that bans anti-Israel activists from entering the country. The law states that Israel will deny entry and residence to “senior or significant officials in prominent boycott organizations, people who take active, consistent and continuous action to promote boycotts within the framework of prominent or independent boycott organizations, institutions that promote boycotts actively and continuously and activists who come to Israel on behalf of one of the most prominent boycott organizations.”

Yesterday five American Jewish, Christian and Muslim BDS activists were informed at their departure points in the US that they would not be permitted to enter Israel. The five American leaders who were barred from entry were from the advocacy groups Jewish Voice for Peace, American Muslims for Palestine and the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, which is active within the Presbyterian Church (USA), a Protestant denomination that voted three years ago to divest from some companies in protest of Israeli treatment of Palestinians.

This is the first time that Israel has enforced this anti-BDS regulation.

For further reading click here.

Terror and Funeral
Yesterday I joined thousands of Israelis, including government ministers and officials, at the funeral of Yossi Salomon (70), his daughter Chaya (46) and son Elad (36) as they were laid to rest in the Modiin Cemetery. The three were stabbed to death as they finished their Friday night Shabbat dinner at the family home in Halamish (Neve Tzuf), Samaria by a 19 year old Palestinian terrorist. The settlement is right near Ramallah.

The terrorist, from a nearby village, called the settlement’s security fence wearing a white shirt (commonly worn by observant Jews in Israel on Shabbat), in order not to draw attention if he was noticed. He performed some sort of purification ceremony using bottles of water that he brought, and then walked to the Salomon house and knocked on the front door, brandishing a large knife.

The Salomon family had gathered to celebrate the birth of a grandchild, so they were expecting many guests to join them after dinner. Chaya opened the door and the terrorist stabbed her. She managed to run outside screaming for help before succumbing to her wounds. The terrorist entered and came upon Tova, Yossi’s 68 year old wife (Chaya and Elad’s mother). At first she thought he was guest since he was wearing a white shirt and she asked him who he was. He smiled at her and stabbed her in the back. She managed to escape upstairs. Then the terrorist stabbed Yossi to death in the kitchen and then attempted to get upstairs.

While the massacre was taking place Elad’s wife Michal managed to quickly take her three children into a room upstairs and lock the door. According to his mother’s testimony, Elad fought the terrorist to prevent him from going up the stairs.

Chaya’s screams had alerted a neighbor who was a member of an elite IDF unit. He ran to the home and managed to shoot and neutralize the terrorist through a window.

The IDF is investigating how the terrorist was able to climb the fence and continue to the Salomon undetected. Apparently an alarm was triggered when the terrorist scaled the fence and a settlement security patrol was dispatched to investigate, but when they noticed no breach they did not alert the IDF or trigger a general alarm. The entire incident, from the terrorist’s scaling the fence until he was shot and neutralized, lasted 14 minutes. He was in the house for approximately 4 minutes. Residents of Halamish are demanding that the IDF install security cameras along the entire security fence.

While the IDF is ultimately responsible for security of the settlement, the settlement’s internal security force is usually the first to make contact with intruders.

The Defense Ministry issued a statement saying, “In the past year, the defense establishment has been carrying out extensive work to strengthen the security components of Halamish. Within this framework, the settlement has already been surrounded by an electric fence. The last part of the project was planned, regardless of the murderous attack, to be carried out in the near future.”

At his weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, Netanyahu said the killer’s home would be demolished swiftly in retribution and those who incited and glorified his act would be dealt with.

Regarding the funeral, it was relatively quiet. There were no calls for revenge, there was no incitement, there were no demonstrations or protests. Perhaps there should have been. Perhaps we Jews should be taking forceful action to permanently end the constant terror and murder. Perhaps we should once and for all say “never again” and mean it.

But the funeral was a time for mourning our losses and praying for a better future.

Temple Mount
Israel has begun installing security cameras around the perimeter of the Temple Mount, which could potentially take the place of the metal detectors that have stirred the recent unrest. Last night Muslim worshippers rioted at the Lion’s Gate, at the entrance to the Temple Mount. Muslims have refused to walk through the metal detectors to enter the Temple Mount and are instead holding their prayers services outside the perimeter. PA President Abbas announced a freeze on all relations with Israel on Friday.

Why are the Muslims so upset about the metal detectors? It obviously makes sense to install them. They’re at the entrance to the Western Wall. And the majority of Muslims don’t want weapons and terror in their holy places. So why the uproar about the metal detectors?

It’s not about the detectors. It’s about Israeli rule. You see, the administration of the Temple Mount is under the control of the Waqf, which is the Muslim religious authority. The “protector” of the religious shrines and mosques on the mount is officially the King of Jordan. So even though everyone knows quite well that Israel has ultimate control over the area, and that it is part of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, as long as administrative authority remains in Muslim hands, the Muslims can imagine that they are in control of their holy places and that keeps them placated. We call this the “status quo”.

The placement of metal detectors at the entrances to the Temple Mount is a clear display of Israeli rule over the area. And there’s no way the Muslims can ever accept Jews (or Christians) controlling their holy places. It goes against their core beliefs and their Koran (which calls for Jihad – holy war to spread Islamic control over the entire world).

So it’s not about security. It’s about ownership. Which is why the IDF and the Shin Bet have been recommending that the metal detectors be removed, since their pretense is inciting the Palestinian population to violence and unrest. But doing so would constitute a show of weakness and send the message that Israel doesn’t actually have ownership over the Temple Mount.

What is the answer? They haven’t found one just yet.

Honest Reporting
The media watch group Honest Reporting posted a video explaining the recent chain of events beginning with the terror attack and murder of two Israeli policemen to the vicious terror attack in which three members of the Salomon family were stabbed to death.

To view the video click here.

Jordanian Terror
An Israeli security guard at the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan was attacked by a 17-year-old Jordanian wielding a screwdriver. The guard managed to shoot and kill the attacker. The owner of the building where the attack took place—a Jordanian doctor—was struck by a stray bullet and killed. The security guard was stabbed in the chest and lightly wounded.

Israel has informed Jordan that according to the Vienna Convention, the security officer is immune from all criminal charges and civil suits in Jordan, and he will not be subject to arrest or interrogation. Currently, there is no official Jordanian request for the extradition of the Israeli security guard.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the Israeli ambassador in Jordan, Einat Schlein, on Sunday along with the security guard who was stabbed.

The 17 year old attacker apparently wanted to murder an Israeli out of nationalistic motives. He was delivering furniture that the embassy had ordered from his father’s shop when he decided to commit his terror attack.

In a demonstration in Amman on Friday, thousands of people protested against Israel while brandishing model rockets with the inscription “Al Aqsa—a red line.” Other protestors shouted, “How beautiful it is to kill soldiers in Jerusalem.”

For further reading click here.

Synagogues Attacked
Muslim demonstrators attacked two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey this past week. The attackers said they were acting in response to the turmoil revolving around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In both attacks the police cars usually stationed in front of each synagogue left the area prior to the attacks, which indicates that the government approved the attacks.

For further reading click here.