Subj : Re: On The Mount
To   : CONSTANCE RAWLEY
From : JOSHUA LEE
Date : Sat Nov 04 2000 12:32 pm

-=> CONSTANCE RAWLEY wrote to JOSHUA LEE <=-

 > The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement
 > Jochanan Horkanos 4, P.O.Box 18325 Jerusalem, Israel
 > Tel: 6251112 Tel/fax 6251113

 JL> This is a small group of nuts, who inevitably are kept from
 JL> ascending the Temple Mount by Israel's own security forces.

 CR>  Are you saying that the news release made fraudulent claims?

Yes, I wouldn't put fraud past this organization.

 CR>  It said that they had permission and promises of protection.
 CR>  Did they ascend the Temple Mount and lay the corner stone?

By now, you know the answer is no. As usual, Israeli security forces
turned them back and told them to pray at the wall with everyone
else.

 JL> (Too bad security forces didn't do the same thing for Sharon.)

 CR>  What, keep him away from the Mount? So you're displeased with his
 CR>  attempt to stir up the people and make a bid for the Mount?

He wasn't "making a bid for the mount", the mount is already technically
in Israel's territory; although the Waqf usually controls it.

 JL> Ironically this is not allowed according to traditional Jewish
 JL> law, which forbids the ascending onto the Temple Mount in a
 JL> ritually impure state.

 CR>  Does Sharon consider himself above the law? Or does he not agree
 CR>  with your interpretation of it?

Sharon, like most major-party politicians, is a secular zionist. In
other words, he's an atheist. He was doing this for nationalistic
reasons. BTW, it's not *my* interpretation, it's the Torah's. As
far as I know, Sharon never mentioned following any re-interpretation
of the Torah during his ill-fated publicity stunt.

 JL> [Which all of us are in due to the ashes of the Red Heifer
 JL> being no longer existent.])

 CR> You called the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement nuts?

Yes.

 CR> So... "all of us" are in a ritually impure state because the ashes of
 CR> "the Red Heifer" no longer exist?  That must be some sacred cow!

The laws of the Red Heifer are described in the Torah, in the book
of Bamidbar (Numbers) parshas Chukas. It is the only way of getting
rid of tumei from a meis. Someone who is tomei cannot be in the
Temple site. BTW, Rashi said that this Torah mitzva is one that
the nations mock us for keeping, so it doesn't surprise me that
you are mocking me for it.

                       JBL

.... What is mind? No matter! What is matter? Never mind! - Homer S.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.37
 * Origin: BBS Networks @ www.bbsnets.com 808-839-5016 (1:10/345)

.