Last Sunday, a record 3,527 Jews visited the Temple Mount, the largest number ever recorded in a single day, according to the Temple Mount Administration
This site is considered the holiest in Judaism, as it is where the First and Second Jewish Temples were built.
The visit took place during the holiday of Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning for Jews commemorating the destruction of these temples.
The Temple Mount Administration, which works to strengthen Jewish ties with the site, said the number of visitors represented an increase of more than 32% over the previous record.
However, the visit generated controversy.
Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir led a group that held prayers on the Temple Mount, a move that goes against a long-standing agreement, called the “status quo.” This agreement, established in 1967 after Israel conquered Jerusalem’s Old City in the Six-Day War, stipulates that non-Muslims may visit the Temple Mount but may not pray there.
The day-to-day administration of the site is handled by the Waqf, a Muslim organization controlled by the Jordanian monarchy, while Israel maintains sovereignty and oversees security.
Following criticism from Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel’s policy toward the Temple Mount “has not changed and will not change.”
Regarding the presence of Jews at the site, there is a division among rabbis.
For centuries, many believed that ritual purity laws prevented Jews from visiting the Temple Mount.
However, in recent years, a growing number of rabbis have argued that these laws do not apply to all areas of the site and encourage visits to maintain the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount.
Published in 08/07/2025 05h18
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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