Manhigut Yehudit in the News

19 Tevet 5773 (Jan. 1, '13)

Jerusalem Post: Feiglin Detained for 3rd Time at Temple Mount

By Melanie Lidman, Gil Hoffman

Police detained Likud candidate Moshe Feiglin for attempting to pray out loud at the Temple Mount on Tuesday morning, the third time this year the activist has been detained on the Temple Mount for similar offenses.

According to police spokesman Shmuel Ben Ruby, Feiglin, who is 23rd on the joint Likud-Beytenu list, prostrated himself in the plaza and tried to pray out loud. Praying out loud, going through ritual motions, or using any type of traditional prayer objects such as tefillin, tallitot, or prayer books, are forbidden for Jews at Judaism's holiest site due to tensions with Muslims worshipers at the Aksa Mosque.

Feiglin wrote on his Facebook page that he goes to the Temple Mount on the 19th of every Jewish month and that he bothered no one other than the undercover policeman who followed him and had him arrested. He said he refused to post bond, give fingerprints or take a mugshot as conditions for his release, and the police ultimately agreed.

"When I was questioned, I said I would provide any information requested, but I would not cooperate in any way with the police's unfortunate policy of harming the liberties of those questioned unnecessarily," Feiglin wrote. "This was a big victory in the battle for human rights in Israel. It did not surprise me that our right to the Temple Mount led to the good news about the liberties of Israeli citizens. We all serve the King of the World whose Divine spirit dwells here. We are not beholden, because we already have a King." Feiglin confirmed that the Likud had asked him to lay low and avoid interviews ahead of the election. He said he accepted the request, because his message was different than the messages his party was trying to put forward.

According to Jewish law, the Temple Mount is the only place where Jews can prostrate themselves. Anywhere else, prostration is considered idol worship. However, on the Temple Mount, prostration is symbolic of modesty and total devotion to God, based on the reaction Moses had when God spoke to him that he "fell down on his face," explained Yehuda Glick, the director of the Temple Mount Foundation.

Feiglin's detention did not require police to close the Temple Mount to visitors, and the rest of the day proceeded without incident.

Police have arrested Feiglin a number of times for attempting to pray on the Temple Mount. The last time Feiglin was arrested was October 2.

Police arrested a total of five people in the incident: Feiglin and another Jewish worshiper, as well as three Muslim worshippers, who surrounded Feiglin's group and started yelling "Allahu Akbar!" One of the Arabs was carrying a concealed knife, which is illegal on the Temple Mount.

In the October incident, Feiglin refused to sign the police restraining order prohibiting him from visiting the Temple Mount and was brought for a hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court.

The judge released him without any conditions.

Feiglin ascends to the Temple Mount on the 19th of every Hebrew month.

Tuesday was the 19th of Tevet according to the Jewish calendar.