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A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLES?
On Simchat Torah (Festival of the Rejoicing of the Law) I went up
to the Temple Mount with my Bible to pray. Although I do not
usually wear a kippa (skull cap), I took one with me.
My first challenge was to pass the guards near the Temple Mount
entrance; if they saw my Bible they would not let me enter. I
silently prayed all the way up to the site where God's Temple
stood twice, and will be rebuilt for a third and final time, that
I would be able to go in. I got past the guards.
You say Jewish guards prevent Christians and Jews from exercising
their religious right to pray on the Temple Mount? That's right!
Only Moslems have unlimited access to Judaism's most holy site.
Only the Koran is permitted within. The Tanach (Jewish scripture,
known to much of the world as the "Old Testament") and Christian
Scriptures (the New Testament) are forbidden. Yet Israel claims
to respect the religious rights of all people.
Israel has no law against Christians and Jews praying or reading
scriptures on the Temple Mount. However, it does have an
unwritten agreement with the Wakf (Moslem religious authorities)
prohibiting this. No sign is posted, stating: "Warning!
Christians and Jewish prayers are forbidden! Bibles not allowed
inside by Moslem religious authorities. Proceed with caution!"
I do not accept that Moslems have the authority to forbid me from
reading appropriate Psalms or the New Testament account of Jesus
celebrating the Water Libation Ceremony (Psalms 120-134, John
7:37). My question was, where should I read those passages? I
ended up between the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aksa mosque,
just to the right of the place where the Moslems wash their hands
and feet. I was on the other side of the raised platform there,
if you face the Mosque of Omar.
First I nervously sat and read. Then I put on my black kippa,
stood up and started to read for a few minutes until I became too
distracted by fears of being attacked by the Moslem guards. I sat
down, took off my kippa, and continued to read. Then one of the
Wakf guards noticed me and asked what I was reading. I replied,
"Yes, it's my book." He demanded to know if I was a Christian or
a Jew. When I told him I am a Christian, he asked me why I was
wearing a magen david (Star of David).
I did not feel obligated to explain that it was a gift from my
mother and youngest sister, and told him, "Give back my Bible."
He ordered, "You have to leave here now!"  Again I said, "Give
back my Bible." When he refused, I demanded its return more
loudly. He raised his fist as if to hit me and warned me not to
raise my voice. This attracted the attention of some passing
tourists, who gathered around us. I told them, "This thief has
stolen my Bible!"
The Wakf guard told me to leave and again threatened to hit me.
He said he would give me back my Bible outside. Since there was n
reason for him to confiscate it in the first place, I told him to
return it to me then and there and I would go. At this point he
radioed an Israeli policeman, who came running. The Israeli
handcuffed my right hand, which I raised and showed to the
assembled tourists, saying, "This is Israeli democracy!" I asked
the Israeli repeatedly, "What law have I broken?" knowing that I
had not broken any law, yet was being treated like a common
criminal.
I am shocked that Jewish police in the Jewish State help maintain
Moslem domination of the Temple Mount by suppressing Christian
and Jewish religious rights there. Is it the Temple Mount or the
Mosque Mount?
An Israeli policeman led me away. I told the bewildered tourists,
"This is what happens to a Christian or Jew who wants to read the
Bible where the holy Temple stood. This is what happens to
Christians and Jews who want to pray where our prophets and
patriarchs prayed, and where Jesus and his disciples taught."
Why the exclusive religious rights for Moslems? And Israel wants
to hand over control of Rachel's Tomb, Bethlehem and Joseph's
Tomb to Moslem religious authorities?! Are they crazy or what?
In the police station at the Western Wall Plaza, the officers
wanted to know who else was with me. They were relieved to find
that I was alone. (They should have known I was performing a
mitzva [religious commandment]). The police said they arrested me
for my own protection. I told them they should have arrested the
Wakf guard who threatened me! Why not remove, once and for all,
the threat of Moslem violence? Why reward Moslem extremists?
The police laughed in disbelief when I told them I am a Christian
and that my Bible includes the New Testament, which they returned
to me. A Druze officer said, "But you must respect other
religions." He remained silent when I asked, "Where was their
respect for mine?" I explained that our Biblical goal is to
enable everyone to come and pray on the mountain where God's
Temple stood, and in the Temple when it will be rebuilt. It is
prophesied to become a "House of Prayer" for all nations.
The police told me I could return to the Temple Mount as a
tourist - without my Bible. I said that I do not want to go up
there only as a "tourist;" I want to pray there. When they asked
me how many times I had been up there, I said "a thousand." They
wrote that down in their report. They said I could make a short
statement for the record. I said something to this effect: "Is it
too much to ask during this 3,000th anniversary of King David's
Jerusalem to peacefully read his inspired words on the Temple
Mount?"
When I left the police compound, one of the policemen told me I
did a good thing. Once outside, I was met by some Jews who saw
the incident and congratulated me.
I pray that this unfortunate encounter will raise awareness of
Israel's religious discrimination against Christians and Jews.
The situation must change. It will when enough people  cry
"Basta!" (Italian for "enough!").
May the day soon come when Christians, Jews and Moslems can say:
"My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all Peoples."
(Isaiah 56:7).

The Bible Says
"Moreover, concerning the stranger, who (is) not of Your people
Israel, but comes out of a far country for Your Name's sake. For
they shall hear of Your great Name, and of Your mighty hand, and
of Your outstretched arm, and will come and pray toward this
house. Hear you in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according
to all that the stranger calls to you for, that all peoples of
the earth may know Your Name, to fear You, as (do) Your people
Israel, that they may know Your Name is called upon this house
that I have built." (I Kings 8:41-43)

"And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to serve Him
and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants - everyone
who observes the Sabbath... I will bring them to My holy
mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt
offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon My altar,
for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."
(Isaiah 56:6-7).
"And it shall come to pass at the end of days, that the mountain
of the Lord's house shall be established at the top of the
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and peoples
shall flow to it. And many nations shall go, and say, 'Come, let
us go up to the mountain of the Lord... and He will teach us of
His ways, and we will walk in His paths,' for out of Zion shall
go forth the Torah, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
(Micah 4:1-2) David Ben-Ariel is a Christian Zionist from Toledo,
Ohio.
Published in the Root & Branch magazine, January - March 1996.
The Root & Branch Association, Ltd., represents Jews and non-
Jews, united in support of the Jewish People and the State of
Israel, who believe in building a world based on Biblical Jewish
principles. Aryeh Gallin, president, POB 8672, German Colony,
91086 Jerusalem, Israel or Email: [e-mail]  Tel:972-2-
739013, Fax: [phone]