<html><P>Thanks.</P>
<P>Aren't there also halachic/political considerations as well, namely<BR>that we must demonstrate that we have not abandoned our claim to Har<BR>HaBayis and conceded it to the increasingly powerful Moslem forces?</P>
<P>Do you have Rav Ariel's essay?<BR>If so, could you scan it?</P>
<P>To your knowledge, have any of those who object written a detailed<BR>response to the archaeological evidence?</P>
<P>See:<BR><A href="http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/aharbaybmd67.htm">http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/aharbaybmd67.htm</A> </P>
<P>Dovid <BR><BR>-- "Eli Turkel" <eliturkel@gmail.com> wrote:<BR>It was reported last week that several Rabbonim from the RZ camp,<BR>amongst them Rav Yaakov Meidan of Yeshivat Har Eyzion, went up to<BR>portions of Har HaBayis. It was also reported that Rav Yaakov Ariel,<BR>the highly respected Rav of Ramat Gan, published a psak that seemed to <BR>support their actions.<BR><BR>If any of our correspondents could fill in the halachic details, I<BR>would be most appreciative.>><BR><BR>The halachik basis is simple. The temple mount was extended by Herod.<BR>It is generally conceded that this extension has no halachic basis and so is not part of halachic har habayit. Hence, the various prohibitions do not extend to these extensions. Thus, one can go there if one is "tamei met" and it is sufficient to go a Mikvah. <BR><BR>The tricky part is identfying where was the Temple within the Temple mount and where were the Herodian extensions. The Kulahs are based on taking certainly historical possibilities and taking the chumrah of them which still leaves some areas that can be visited. <BR><BR>Those who prohibit which includes R. A. Shapira. R. Lichtenstein and several other promininet DL poskim plus all charedi poskim have 2 objections. One they do not rely on historical guesses as to where was the Temple. In fact there are probably enough theories around that include almost everything. Second the fear that once one goes on the Temple mount it is too easy to get into the "wrong" areas or that one does not go to the mikvah properly etc. <BR clear=all><BR>-- <BR>Eli Turkel </P></html>