RESPONSE: Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef’s New Letter Against Har Habayis
Speaking of this.
(A “Response”, yes, but not a little-deserved “answer”.)
First, as to the actual claims, it is ridiculous to think every Dime-A-Dozen cheap “Chief” State rabbi deserves detailed answers every time he rehashes old claims refuted a thousand times already, like some stiff-necked missionary.
For example, his list of rabbis opposing Har Habayis is wrong and misleading. The claim those who ascend properly cause others to ascend improperly (not even true on the ground) is refuted by Gemara Shavuos 16a:
… ולמה קידשוה למה קידשוה הא אמרת לא קידשוה אלא למה הכניסוה מפני שתורפה של ירושלים היתה ונוחה היא ליכבש משם
And Tosafos:
אלא בבני גולה, אע”פ שהיה הדבר בא לידי תקלה הכניסוה כדי שימסרו עצמם עליהם יותר כשיש בה שם קדושה.
As for Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef specifically, I hate to give him credit, but as I said before, his writing on this topic always seems a bit schizophrenic, even encoding the opposite message, and this time is no exception either. (See more here.)
It’s silly Rabbi Yosef thinks any but the most naive readers would regard him or his father (mentioned in this public letter), both indentured servants to the anti-Temple establishment, as in any way unbiased or honest.
Most important to stress here, I think, is how dishonest the anti-Temple Mount position really is.
You see, Rabbi Yosef mentions those rabbis, such as Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu who supported building a synagogue on the mount and also blames the faithful for not stopping ignorant Jewish tourists from violating halacha.
But how come there is still no synagogue on the mount? How come no authority prevents ignorant Jewish tourists from violating halacha? I won’t even mention keeping the goyim out. And if it’s impossible, in his view, to rely upon mere measurements, that is only because his owners refuse to allow any excavations! Aren’t those jobs the role of his own employers?!
Imagine a lowlife who gets a girl pregnant, but refuses to wed her, promising to at least support his own child. But then doesn’t send any money. And even writes letters appealing to the public not to give the child or the mother a single penny.
The word “chutzpah” is too mild!
Read the original in Hebrew (image, untyped) here…
And here is another response to Rabbi Yosef’s previous outburst against Har Habayis (in Hebrew).