'Renew animal sacrifices on Mount' says radical
rabbi
Member of Sanhedrin says sacrifices 'were not possible when the
people of Israel were in the Diaspora, but now they are.' Adds:
Jerusalem Temple should be rebuilt, Israeli government standing in
our way
Yaakov Lappin
Animal sacrifices should be renewed on the Temple Mount, a member
of the radical Sanhedrin organization told Ynetnews.
In ancient Israel and Judea, the Sanhedrin served as the highest
court in the land, and was made up of 71 top judges. Now, a group
of fringe rabbis say they have reformed the group, although the
organization has received no recognition from Israel's official
religious authorities.
"In the Torah there are around 200 commandments dealing with animal
sacrifices," said Rabbi Dov Stein, of the Sanhedrin organization.
"The Torah of Israel demands animal sacrifices. When the people of
Israel were in the Diaspora, it couldnt be done. But now, there is
the supreme institution, the Sanhedrin, made up of experts, and it
can be done. The new Sanhedrin, like the old, will educate the
people of Israel on how to keep and safeguard the Torah."
'Democracy was not invented today'
Stein vowed that "we will try to carry out animal sacrifices on the
Temple Mount this Passover, as commanded by the Torah."
Asked if his organization sought to rebuild the third Temple,
Stein's answer was unequivocal. "We want to establish the Temple
again. Unfortunately, standing in our way is a hostile regime, the
Israeli government, and rabbis who for political interest don't
want this to happen."
Stein even suggested that Muslims would agree to the project,
saying: "The Omar Mosque (the Dome of the Rock), built by Khalif
Omar, was actually intended to safeguard the site for the Jews.
Islam hasn't always been so hostile. Despite its hatred and
massacres against us, Islam sees in Judaism a source and a guide. I
think the moment will come that Muslims understand the need to
build the Temple and go along with us."
Stein outlined his plan for Israel, calling for a king to be
appointed democratically. "Democracy was not invented today, the
king is elected from a list of candidates. A senior judge, as was
done during the days of the judges, can also be appointed," he
added.
However, such practices ended 2000 years ago, Rabbi Doniel Hartman
was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.
"Around that time, animal sacrifice, as a mode of religious
worship, stopped for Jews, Christians and Muslims," said the rabbi
from the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, according to AP.
"Moving back in that direction is not progress," he added.
According to mainstream Jewish thought, animal sacrifices must not
be carried out outside of Temple, which itself cannot be rebuilt by
human endeavor, but will be rebuilt upon the arrival of the
messiah.