Occupation rabbis at the heart of the Judaization project of Al-Aqsa.

The dangers threatening Al-Aqsa Mosque are no longer limited to almost daily incursions. What these incursions entail in terms of desecration and aggression has exacerbated these dangers, especially as they have been accompanied by a rise in the imposition of public Jewish rituals and attempts to increase the number of intruders coinciding with Jewish holidays. This is also connected to the demands of "Temple organizations" at the political level, aiming to open the way for Al-Aqsa incursions throughout the day and introduce sacred tools for performing public rituals, among other things.

There's no doubt that a key player stands behind these schemes, one who seeks to link them with ideas of salvation and invoking divine victory, among others. These are the rabbis of extremist groups. In this article, we shed light on their role in propagating the idea of the "Temple" within the occupation's various levels, connecting it to biblical religious prophecies, and their direct aggression inside Al-Aqsa.

The Rabbis... and the Establishment of Extremist Organizations

Rabbis played a prominent role in the establishment of these extremist organizations, and this role was not only linked to the current organizations but also to the ideological roots of these organizations. These roots can be traced back to the Bnei Akiva (1) group, which was founded by Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Segal in 1937.

Sources indicate a connection between many temple organizations and the Gush Emunim settlement organization, which was established after the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967. It was founded by Rabbi Moshe Levinger. After the organization was halted in 1984(2), its ideas remained present in the Yesha Council, which included the settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip at that time, as well as in the Hilltop Youth movement that was established following the withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip.(3)

In addition, a number of "Israeli" parties adopted the ideas of this organization, such as the Jewish Home party, and were among the first institutions specialized in establishing the "Temple" Institute founded by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel.

Hebrew sources indicate that most of the officials of the "Temple Organizations" are Ashkenazi Orthodox rabbis, part of what is known as the religious Zionist movement. Among the most prominent of these is Rabbi Chaim Richman, director of the international department of the "Temple Institute," in addition to the two extremist rabbis Yehuda Glick and Yehuda Atzion, among others.

Read also: The stages of the Zionist occupation of Jerusalem

A rabbinical parliament seeks to build the temple.

According to the Encyclopedia "Jews and Judaism" by the late Dr. Abdel Wahab El-Messiri , the "Sanhedrin" is the highest judicial body responsible for handling political, criminal, and religious cases in the areas where Jews lived. It was the highest judicial authority in ancient times, having the final say in interpreting and issuing laws. The council consists of 71 members.(4)

As the agendas of the "Temple" have escalated under the occupation, 71 Jewish religious leaders re-established the "Sanhedrin" on October 13, 2004. Although it lacks any authority to address political or religious matters, the new council defines itself as the rabbinical Jewish parliament and focuses its efforts on identifying the location of the Holy of Holies, restoring Jewish worship and rituals to the Temple, particularly the offering of animal sacrifices, and searching for animals that meet the conditions for sacrifices. The council contributes to training settlers in these rituals and reviving the priestly class of the Temple.(5)

Some researchers consider that the new "Sanhedrin" has become the rabbinical authority for extremist organizations, representing a gathering of what is known as "religious Zionism." Its diligent work supports the propositions of "Temple organizations," including the participation of its rabbis in storming the "Al-Aqsa" mosque, sending messages to the leaders of the occupation regarding the establishment of the "Temple," and even creating tools for Jewish rituals. This was exemplified on September 9, 2022, when a leader of the new "Sanhedrin" announced that they had completed the making of a "shofar"(6) that meets biblical specifications.(7)

The Sanhedrin approves the raid on Al-Aqsa

One of the most prominent issues the "New Sanhedrin" is working on is changing the official rabbinic fatwa (religious edict). The official rabbinic authority still prohibits Jews from participating in Al-Aqsa incursions due to the absence of the purity requirement and other religious considerations.

Therefore, religious Zionism is mobilizing a large number of non-traditional and non-Orthodox rabbis to achieve a breakthrough in the official religious ruling. Their aim is to approve a religious opinion that permits Al-Aqsa incursions, while simultaneously working to fulfill the conditions of purity through the "Red Heifer" rituals (8).

The "Sanhedrin" periodically renews the fatwas (religious edicts) related to the permissibility of storming Al-Aqsa. Among the latest published by Temple organizations was a letter affirming the lawfulness of storming Al-Aqsa on July 9, 2020. The letter included signatures from approximately 60 rabbis, authorizing the desecration of Al-Aqsa and urging its storming. Among the signatories were Rabbi Nahum Rabinovich, head of the Barkat Moshe settlement religious school in Ma'ale Adumim (9), and a number of students of Rabbi Zvi Kook, Rabbi Yisrael Ariel (10), Rabbi Eliezer Waldman, and others.

The year 2024 witnessed a notable development represented by the attempts of "Temple organizations" to reach the top of the official rabbinate hierarchy, pushing central members to become part of the higher official rabbinical councils. They worked on nominating Rabbi Meir Kahane as a candidate for the Ashkenazi rabbinate, and Yehuda Hayek as a candidate for the Sephardic rabbinate. However, the election results indicated that they failed to attain the position, with indications of one or more members leaning towards the opinion of the "Sanhedrin" and supporting incursions into the "Al-Aqsa" Mosque before achieving purification.

Read also: 7 Zionist policies for the Judaization of Al-Aqsa Mosque Palestine

The participation of the rabbis in the aggression against 'Al-Aqsa

Despite all the efforts made by the rabbis in the context of achieving their goals, they have an active role in desecrating Al-Aqsa Mosque and storming its plazas. They lead groups of intruders, provide Talmudic explanations, and conduct public Jewish rituals in the eastern courtyards of Al-Aqsa, culminating in what resembles a rabbinical summit.

On April 3, 2022, a group of senior rabbis from the occupation participated in the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The incursion included discussions on preparations for the Passover incursions. Rabbis from various extremist organizations, settlements, and religious institutes took part in the incursion, alongside the new "Sanhedrin." Among the prominent participants were: Yisrael Ariel, the spiritual leader of the Temple organizations and founder of the Third Temple Institute and head of the Temple Mount School, Rabbi Yaakov Haiman, head of the Temple Organizations Coalition, and several leaders of extremist rabbinical organizations.

On October 13, 2022, the "Al-Aqsa" witnessed a second summit, attended by Rabbi Shaul Buchico, Rabbi of the settlement of Kochav Yaakov, Rabbi Shlomo Wilk, head of the Stone of the Torah school, and Rabbi Yehuda Shalosh from Netanya, one of the senior rabbis of the new "Sanhedrin

In the past weeks, Al-Aqsa Mosque has witnessed the leadership of the extremist rabbi Yehuda Glick, who accompanied waves of foreign tourists while they desecrated several locations within the mosque. With the continued leadership of rabbis in performing public rituals and accompanying political figures during incursions, the mosque has seen older rabbis deliberately sit in various areas of Al-Aqsa in the past months.

On February 18, 2025, the extremist rabbi Daniel Shilo (87 years old) stormed Al-Aqsa, sat on the platform in the eastern area, and performed his prayers there accompanied by his followers.

On May 5, 2025, a Zionist rabbi deliberately relaxed on the ground of "Al-Aqsa," near the Cotton Merchants' Gate, during his incursion along with some of his followers, while the occupation police surrounded him for protection.

Will the Ibrahimi Mosque survive the grip of occupation? | The full story

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(1) A Jewish movement that operated through the teachings of Yair Stern, whose real name was Avraham Stern (December 23, 1907 – February 12, 1942), the founder of the extremist Stern Gang (also known as Lehi, an acronym for "Fighters for the Freedom of Israel") during the British Mandate era in Palestine.

(2) Due to an attempt by a number of its members to blow up the Dome of the Rock prayer hall.

(3) Inaam Hamed, Jerusalem Center, July 13, 2022, https://bit.ly/3yxFe1N.

(4) Abdelwahab El-Messiri, Encyclopedia of Jews, Judaism and Zionism, electronic version, https://tinyurl.com/yc7jre38.

(5) Ritmyer, March 17, 2007, https://tinyurl.com/352nnma6 Louis Vega, The Nascent Sanhedrin, p 7.

(6) It is the horn used to announce the Hebrew New Year, and it is blown, according to Jewish beliefs, inside the Temple. Its blowing carries many symbolic connotations, including the imposition of Jewish sovereignty, the declaration of victory, and so on.

(7) Jerusalem City Website, September 14, 2022, https://qii.media/items/1794.

(8) We covered it in the following article: https://tinyurl.com/ywdrynfs.

(9) Signed it before his death in May 2020.

(10) One of the key rabbis responsible for the revival of the "Sanhedrin."