JERUSALEM–Yehuda Glick’s flaming red hair isn’t the only thing that makes him stand out. The Brooklyn-born rabbi, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, is also one of Israel’s newest members of parliament.
But he is best known as an activist who is demanding that Jews be allowed to pray at one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Muslims call the ancient site Haram al-Sharif or the Noble Sanctuary, the raised esplanade in Jerusalem’s Old City that harbors the opulent Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina.
Jews call it the Temple Mount, believed to be where the first and second temples once stood. They say the place was sanctified by God. It is considered the holiest site in Judaism.
Under a status quo agreement, Jews are allowed to visit but not visibly pray there. Jews in religious garb–as opposed to tourists–are accompanied by armed Israeli troops, who are assigned to protect them but also stop them from praying.
Muslims consider the presence of Jewish worshipers a provocation.
Glick and his supporters see it as their right.
We sat down with Glick on the eve of the Jewish high holy days, a time when tensions between Jews and Muslims over the plaza often intensify.
This interview has been edited and condensed for space and clarity:
You travel with a security detail. You get death threats. You survived an assassination attempt by a member of the Islamic Jihad movement who attacked you at meeting of Temple Mount activists in 2014. How is your health? How did this change you?
Of course, I am very happy that I survived it, not just because I am still alive but because it would be very sad in a democratic country that people are shot because of their legal legitimate activities.
When you live in a democracy you need to understand that everyone can think differently and respect each other. When someone expresses his views violently then it is very scary. But here I am and I am happy that I am alive and happy that he is dead.
You are the most prominent Temple activist. Are you hoping to build a third Jewish temple? And if you are, how would that be built, without destroying what is there already, the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque?
I am a Temple Mount activist, not a temple activist. I strongly believe that the Temple Mount, which was sanctified by God, is seen by billions of people around the world, Jews and non-Jews, as the holiest place, according to the Bible.
A holy place is supposed to be a center for world peace, tolerance and respect for one another. It should be a world power of light for all people who believe that God is not exclusive but inclusive.
Unfortunately, today there is a strong power of exclusiveness on the Temple Mount. It is being used by people who, in the name of God, believe they have a right to kill others who they don’t agree with.
Do you think there will be a third Jewish Temple there one day?
What will be in the future I don’t know. I try to be active in the present. I think that the word of God materialized and became a reality, against all rationality, the Jewish people came back to their homeland. The same thing will happen here. God said you will have a temple on the Temple Mount and that prophecy will also be fulfilled.
The temple is not another piece of real estate. It cannot be built by a private person or organization. The temple will be built when the people of different nations and the people of Israel understand that is what has to be done. I think that it can be done peacefully when the people of the world understand that they will benefit from it.
Let’s talk about now. What do you want to change about the current status quo?
I am for giving rights to anyone who wants to worship God–Jews, Muslims, anyone.
The Temple Mount is 144,000 square meters (about 37 acres). There is enough room for millions of people. I don’t see any reason in the world why people can’t all pray there together. There is no reason why it can’t be shared. We can all pray together, I can stand there with an Evangelical pastor, a Catholic priest and a Muslim sheik. Once we can agree that it can be done, how to do it is a minor issue.
Muslims are fearful that allowing Jews in to pray is the first step to them taking over the holy site. They say if you continue to push, it could cause a holy war.
I feel those are all excuses. There is not going to be World War III over this. The Israeli Arab Muslim population is living under some kind of illusions that the Muslim world cares about them. I’ve got a surprise for them: They should go ask the 100,000 Syrians who are being killed every day to find about the solidarity of the Muslim world.
Comment by Dennis Edwards: The Bible predicts there will indeed be a Third Temple on the Temple Mount. Many Bible scholars believe the Holy Covenant spoken of by Daniel the Prophet in a prophecy reguarding the last days concerns the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount. Sacrificial worship will begin some 8 months later, but after 2 years and 10 months the Antichrist forces will stop the sacrificial worship at the Temple. The breaking of the covenant and the stopping of the sacrificial worship in the Temple was the sign that Jesus gave for the beginning of the worst period in world history, the 3 and 1/2 year Great Tribulation. Do you need some Bible prophecy classes? Message me at dennismedwards@gmail.com
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