Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent: Dozens of rabbis ascend Temple Mount in unprecedented visit
Talkback
Title: Entry to the Temple Mount Name: Eli City: Yerushalayim State:
I think that it would be appropriate and very informative if Haaretz would do a background piece as to what has happenned historically with regards to entrance to the Temple Mount. To the best of my knowledge the total ban on entering the Temple Mount came into effect when it was issued by the Rambam. Prior to that it was very common for everyone to go and pray on the Temple Mount. In fact during the period of the Geonim it was an accepted practice for the community in Yerushalayim to pay bribes to the Arabs in order to be permitted to pray on the Temple Mount during Tisha B`av. According to a friend of mine who does have significant knowledge in this area there is substantial evidence that the Rambam himself went up to the Temple Mount. It is not clear as to what happenned that reversed a 1000 tradition of many Jews visiting the Temple Mount and why people today have the mistaken impression that it was always forbidden to visit the Temple Mount.