Just a Thought - 08/27/2020

Greetings to all and may the Lord bless you.

A petition is currently being considered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which, if accepted, will permit a Jew to blow the shofar on Rosh Hashana on the Temple Mount for the first time in 1,950 years.

This year, Rosh Hashana (New Year) marks the start of the Jewish year 5781 and begins on September 18th at sundown and ends at nightfall on September 20th. Ten days later, Jews would recognize the most holy day in their annual calender - Yom Kippur.

Jews are permitted on the Temple Mount only five days a week, Sunday through Thursday. This year, the first day of Rosh Hashana is on Saturday, the sabbath. According to Jewish law, it is forbidden to blow the shofar on the sabbath, except on the temple Mount. If The Prime Minister grants a stamp of approval, a group of Jews will sound the shofar on the South Eastern side on the mount on Saturday morning and once again on Sunday morning. The Rabbis requesting this permission argue that people of every faith should be permitted to pray on the Mount, in a manner that is fully respectful to their religion, taking into account the times of each religion's prayers and holidays, as well as other religious factors. A formal request was also submitted to the Chief of Police.

Rabbi Hillel Weiss explains:

"Blowing of the shofar on the temple Mount on Rosh Hashana is not a simple ritual as it is done in synagogues around the world. This is not just for Jews who are there to hear it. Rather, this is a shofar call to all the nations of the world . Now, more than ever before, we are crying out to Hashem to bless us with life, peace and an end to plagues."

The rabbi further states:

"Blowing the shofar that is specific to the Temple is our cry to Hashem to prevent the division of His land and the loss of His house. The shofar will topple anyone who is set on dividing the land and opposing the establishment of a house of prayer for All Nations in Jerusalem, just as the sound of the shofar toppled the walls that stood between the Jews and their entering the Promised Land."

No non-Islamic symbols or prayer books will be brought atop the Mount and no Jewish prayers will be said. The sound of the shofar alone will express everything that the Jews wish to convey to Hashem.

If the Israeli Government fails to allow the blowing of the shofar to take place, an alternative ritual will take place adjacent to the Temple Mount

For those of you who might be interested in the final outcome of the rabbis' petition, a Government decision is expected by tomorrow. Please notify me when you hear of it, because I will NOT be notifying you.

Just a Thought

Pastor Chandroo