b'ezrat HaShem / With the help of G–d
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For the first time since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 ce, the Hanukkah Menorah was lit in front of the southern Hulda gates of the Temple Mount. The Hulda gates had a special significance in the history of the First and Second Temples. It was the main entrance to the Temple Mount for many millions of Israeli pilgrims. The gates were named after the prophet Hulda. She was one of the most popular and important prophets of Israel during the First Temple age. The people of Israel appreciated her so much that they buried her near the southern gates of the Temple Mount. The lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah at this Holy place was the climax of the Hanukkah event of the Faithful Movement on the Temple Mount.
This important event started on the morning of the eight day of Hanukkah (3 Tevet 5678 / December 12, 2007) at a very critical time in the history of Israel. Once again, Israel is surrounded on all sides — even on the inside — by so many enemies. The world is placing pressure upon Israel, including the President of the United States and his Secretary of State, to divide the holy land which was given by G-d in an eternal covenant to Israel. This pressure is coming at a time when the Israeli leadership is very weak. It is unable to stand in order to avoid the establishment of an evil foreign "Palestinian" state in the holy land of Israel. This critical time is similar to the time of the Maccabees, when the Greek empire controlled the land of Israel and the Israeli leadership was spiritually too weak to stop the impact of Greek control and its culture.
The Temple Mount Faithful Movement decided after the Six Day War, like the Maccabees, to remove the enemies from the Temple Mount and the land of Israel, to reject the political and cultural pressure coming from all the world, to trust only the G-d of Israel and His word, and to rebuild His Temple in our lifetime.
Reuven Goldberg, a hero of Israel that was injured in one of Israels wars, is lighting the Hanukkah Menorah at the Tombs of the Maccabees in Modi'in.
The Faithful Members are praying near the Tombs of the Maccabees in Modi'in.
This critical situation, which the prophet of Israel called the "birth pains of redemption", was the main motivation of this year's Hanukkah event. When we came in the early morning to Modi'in, the ancient city of the Maccabees, we stood in front of the tombs of the Maccabees and swore to continue what they had started 2,174 years ago. We declared that we would not stop our struggle until the enemies of the G-d and people of Israel are removed from the Temple Mount and the holy land of Israel and the Temple is rebuilt. We lit the eight candles of the Hanukkah Menorah and the torch of the Maccabees, which we later carried to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in order to bring through its lights the testimony of the Maccabees.
The Faithful Members demonstrating at Jaffa Gate of the biblical Jerusalem against the establishment of a "Palestinian" terrorist state in the holy land of Israel.
From Modi'in, we arrived at the Jaffa Gate Plaza in Jerusalem. There we demonstrated against all of the foreign pressure — coming mainly from US President Bush — to establish a "Palestinian" terrorist state in the holy land of Israel and to make Jerusalem a "Palestinian" capital. As our forefathers did before us, we swore faithfulness to Jerusalem, in order that this revolt against G-d and His holy city will never happen. For thousands of years Jerusalem was the capital of the G-d and the people of Israel, Now, thanks to G-d's miracles, Jerusalem is once again the undivided capital of Israel, and so it will be forever. Gershon Salomon called on the people of Israel to stop this revolt against G-d and His covenant with Israel. He called on them to trust only the G-d of Israel and not any human being. He warned US President Bush and the United Nations that only the G-d of Israel controls the destiny of Israel, not any one of them. He warned them to fear G-d and His judgment, which is soon to come. In the middle of the Plaza of the Jaffa Gate, the Faithful raised up the flag of Israel with the star of David, together with the flag of the Temple Mount Faithful. The Faithful prayed for the peace of Jerusalem. When the psalm of King David was heard once again in the streets of the holy city, we strongly felt the presence of the Spirit of G-d, and His servant King David among us:
The lightning of the Hanukkah Menorah in the middle of Jaffa Gate Plaza.
Gershon Salomon is calling the people of Israel to reject to the pressure on Israel coming from all the world to devied the Land of Israel. The Faithful are holding balloons, calling Israel to remove the enemy from the Temple Mount.
The balloons, calling to remove the enemy from the Temple Mount, are covering the sky above the Old City of Jerusalem.
"A Song of Maalot of David. I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord'. Our feet shall stand inside your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built as a city which is bound firmly together; There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For thrones of judgment were set there, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; those who love you shall prosper. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. For my brothers and companions' sakes, I will now say, 'Peace be within you'. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good." (Psalms 122)
When we lit the Hanukkah Menorah in the middle of the Jaffa Gate Plaza, these holy words became like words of fire and inspired all of us so much.
The Rabbi of Beit Huron, a settlement near Modi'in, is lighting the Hanukkah Menorah at the middle of the Jaffa Gate.
The Faithful Members with the Hanukkah Menorah are marching along the streets of the biblical Jerusalem and dancing on the way to the Holy Temple Mount.
In the front of the Hulda Gates of the Temple Mount, Gershon is calling on Israel to open the Hulda Gates for pilgrims and to immediately rebuild the Temple.
The climax of this important and exciting event was when we arrived at the Hulda gates of the Temple Mount. We lit the Hanukkah Menorah at that place for the first time in almost 2,000 years. The light covered the gates and the walls of the Temple Mount with an illumination that has not been seen at that holy place for such a long time. We felt that the Arabs and the Muslims are now experiencing their last days of occupation of the Temple Mount, that their desecration of the holy hill of the G-d of Israel will be finished soon. We swore that we would not rest day or night until this moment comes to pass. Gershon called on the people of Israel to immediately rebuild the Temple in order to fulfill the expectations of G-d from His people, exactly as spoken by His prophet Isaiah:
"The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. And many people shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for from Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall decide for many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 5:1-5)
A part of the original arch of the Hulda Gates from the Second Temple age.
The Faithful Members are lighting the Hanukkah Menorah in front of the Hulda Gates.
The Faithful Members are praying in front of the Hulda gates.
This Hanukkah event was one of the most exciting and important events of this year feasts. It caused much excitement and hope in Israel. The deep desire of the Israeli nation for the Temple Mount and the rebuilding of the Temple in the lifetime of our generation is more now then at any time in the pas. Thanks to G-d, the Faithful Movement again succeeded to bring this holy cause into the hearts and to the attention of every one in Israel and all the world. People now understand that the march of the G-d of Israel, together with His people Israel, back to His Holy Mountain and House is soon to occur. The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement will continue to do everything to ensure that this vision will soon become a reality. Every one in Israel and all over the world is called on to stand with the Faithful Movement, to encourage and help her in all ways at this godly and critical time of redemption when it is so needed and when so many enemies are trying to stop the Faithful Movement and Israel from making it a reality in the lifetime of our generation. Let all of us trust G-d, follow His word, and not fear any enemy or human being who is coming to destroy this godly vision and His servants.
We hope to soon send you more information from the Faithful Movement.
Looking forward to hearing from you.