Holy Temple: 5 - Ascending the Temple Mount

"It is forbidden by Torah law to ascend the Temple Mount." Fact or myth?

Quoting directly from Israel's most illustrious sages, Rabbi Richman explains why it is not only permissible to ascend the Temple Mount today, but it is a positive commandment to do so.

Rabbi Chaim Richman provides the answers from the sources of Torah wisdom to these questions and many more in this multi-part series which will bust all of the myths that have come to clutter Jewish thought concerning the building of the Holy Temple and its significance to the entire world.

This video was made possible in part by the Shraga family of the USA, and by the Temple Institute, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.

SOURCES:

(A complete list of sources for the entire video can be found at https://www.templeinstitute.org/holy-temple-myth-busters-sources.htm)

Minute 1:20 'According to halacha Jews most certainly could ascend to the Temple Mount today'

Rambam, Mishne Torah, Beit HaBechira 7,7
Radbaz, Responsa 691
HaMeiri, Beit HaBechira Shavuot 16:a
R. Chaim Alfandari, Derech HaKodesh, Kedusha Shlishit 2; ibid Shvi'it 3,3; ibid Kedusha Asirit in the name of Maharit
Chida, Birkei Yosef Orach Chaim 561
Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 113
R. Shmuel Horowitz, Yemei Shmuel II, 144
R. Yekutiel Yehudah Halberstam (Admor of Kloizenberg), Gilyon Aleph 596

Minute 1:35 'We Know Exactly Where We are Allowed to Go...Most Authoritative Opinion Informs Us...'

Radbaz, Responsa 691
Chida, Birkei Yosef Orach Chaim 561,3
Shaarei Teshuva and Kaf HaChaim - ibid.
HaBach b'shem HaLikutim, Orach Chaim 561
HaMeiri, Beit HaBechira Shavuot 16:a
R. Chaim Alfandari, Derech HaKodesh, Kedusha Shlishit 2; ibid Shvi'it 3,3; ibid Kedusha Asirit in the name of Maharit
Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 113
Sefer Mevaseret Tzion 4, in the name of Maharam Chajes
Shla HaKadosh, Igeret, Kovetz 'Al Yad' 16, pp. 225-247
Rabbi Avraham bar Chiya HaNasi, Megilat HaMegilah, p.99
Maimonides Letter - Igrot HaRambam I, Shilat Edition p. 225
Ginzei HaGaonim Bava Batra 60:b
Travels of R. Binyamin of Tudela, p. 24
R. Yaakov of Paris, Sefer Otzar HaMa'saot, p. 67
Talmid HaRamban, Ma'saot Eretz Yisrael p. 53
Igeret R. Ovadia MiBartenura, Sefer Otzar HaMa'asot p. 119
R. Moshe Chajes, Eleh Ma'asei 12
Chatam Sofer, Responsa, Yoreh Deah 236
R.Tzvi Pesach Frank, Mikdash Melech 125
R. Ovadia Yosef, Ma'adanei Melech I, 321

Minute 1:55 'Measure and Determine Where the Mikdash Stood'
Radbaz, Responsa 691

Minute 2:15 'Sanctified Temple Mount was 500 square cubits'
Middot 2,1; Rambam Beit HaBechira 5,1

Minute 2:30 'To these areas of lesser sanctity we ascend, while scrupulously avoiding...'
Kelim 1, 6-8; Pesachim 67:b; Middot Ch. 2; Rambam Biyat HaMikdash 3, 3-10; Beit HaBechira 7,15

Minute 3:15 'Outer Areas of the Har HaBayit are Completely Permissible for Tamei Met',

Rambam Beit HaBechirah 7,7; 7,15;
Chida, Birkei Yosef Orach Chaim 561
Radbaz, II, 691
Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 113

Minute 3:20 'In Fact, Even a Corpse'...
Tosefta, Kelim 1,8

Minute 3:28: 'And Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him'
Ex. 3:19

Minute 3:35 'Equivalent in Sanctity to the Levitical Camp in the Temple Mount'
Rambam Beit HaBechira 7, 11

Minute 4:25 'Specific examples of decorum: walking stick etc.'
Rambam Beit HaBechira 7, 1-2

Minute 5:20 'Because First and Foremost, the Har Habayit is the Place of Prayer'

Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzvat Binyan Beit HaBechira
Midrash HaGadol, V'Zot HaBracha Devarim 33:12
Pirkei D'Rabi Eliezer, 35

Minute 5:30 'Rambam's intention, one should only enter for the purpose of mitzvah'
Rambam Beit HaBechira 7,2

Minute 6:05 'As Opposed to the Temple Mount Which is Mentioned Countless Times'

The Expression 'Har HaMoriah':

Tanach: B'reishith 22:2; II Chron. 3,1
Talmud Bavli: Ta'anit 16:b
Talmud Yerushalmi: Berachot 35,2
Midrash Rabbah: B'reishith 55,9; 60,12
Midrash Tanchuma Vayera 22
Shohar Tov Psalms 92
Pesikta 40, 'U'bachodesh ha'shvi'i'
Targum Yonatan B'reishith 22:4
Targum Onkelos loc cit
Rashi ibid. 28:17
Eben Ezra B'reishith 22:2; Psalms 15:1
Ramban B'reishith 22:2
Rambam Mishne Torah, Beit HaBechira 2,2
Rabbeinu Bachaye Genesis 22:2; ibid. 13
Baal HaTurim, Kli Yikar loc cit