Rabbi warns that rumored deal to hand King David’s Tomb to the Vatican can have deep religious consequences.
By Benny Toker and Tova Dvorin, INN
Statue of King David, King David’s Tomb
Rabbi Simcha HaCohen Kook, Rabbi of Rehovot and member of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, warned that the government relinquishing David’s Tomb to the Vatican would be a “national disgrace.”
“Twenty years ago they wanted to do something similar, to give the burial place of King David away – and again today,” the Rabbi stated to Arutz Sheva Wednesday.
“Imagine if another nation did something similar [by giving away an ancient heritage or religious site – ed.] – there would be an outcry,” he continued. “Now when Jews do it, the world is silent. We are tumbling down a deep abyss.”
Rabbi Kook noted that, unlike some Jewish religious sites, all the Rabbis in Israel have declared that King David’s Tomb really is on Mount Zion – making giving the site away a national tragedy.
“The Ben Ish Chai wrote a special song for it, the Holy Ari confirmed the gravesite’s location in Israel, Rabbi Moshe Hagis also did,” he said. “The Maharil Diskin and Rabbi Shmuel Salant, Rabbis of Jerusalem, wrote that those who doubt Mount Zion is the burial place of King David, is uncouth and ignorant. Tomorrow they will come and say that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is not buried in Meron – how did we get here?”
The Rabbi also expressed confusion over the status of the deal, rumors of which have floated around Israeli media for months – but have yet to be confirmed in Italian media.
“For months, the Vatican said that everything is agreed, and that King David’s Tomb is signed away,” he lamented. “What can we do? If they give Catholics the room above the Tomb of David, we cannot pray there.”
Rabbi Kook added that the issue has incredible religious implications.
“This is as if the Jews are admitting to the Christians that they, not us, are the ‘true descendants’ of King David,” he warned. “Young Jews will want to come here to pray and instead see masses of Christian worshippers.”
“Who knows if this could cause a wave of conversions [to Catholicism]?” he continued. “What will happen in the World to Come when we have to testify [before G-d] and say that we lived in a generation which handed over King David’s Tomb? A government who does such a thing is forbidden to belong to the people of Israel, this is an anti-Israeli government.”
Concerns over a possible transfer of the property have been raised multiple times over the past several months. Earlier this month, an Israeli diplomatic source toldArutz Sheva that the Israeli government has no intention of transferring control over the site to the Church.
However, Rabbi Yaakov Sevilia, an activist for King David’s Tomb, told Arutz Shevathat there is a deal in the works – which would see David’s Tomb given to Christians, and the Temple Mount to Muslims. He cited journalist Gulio Meotti, who contributes regularly to Arutz Sheva, as the source for this knowledge.
MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) has also written a stern letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu over the issue, noting its political significance in terms of Israel’s history and heritage.
“It is inconceivable that this place will be transferred to foreign hands, such the Torahs and the Star of David will be swallowed in a sea of crosses,” the Deputy Minister wrote.
”Transferring the rights to the gravesite of David to Christian hands would be similar to Moshe Dayan’s decision to entrust the keys to the Temple Mount to the Jordanian Waqf.”
Hotovely warned that David’s Tomb, like the Temple Mount, could become restricted to Jewish access and prayer – and has serious political and religious implications.
“David’s Tomb is also evidence of Jewish sovereignty in ancient Israel,” she declared. “Handing over the grave of the great leaders of the ancient Jewish state, is in fact an agreement with the Palestinians – who rewrite history and challenge the legitimacy of the State of Israel.”
I agree….certainly don’t need a man that nags, or is a couch potato. @ honeybee:
dove Said:
Men are like horses, you want a “high spirited one ” not an ” old nag”.
Soak guns for Lag B’Omert, good idea.
dove Said:
@ honeybee:
That’s fine HB. You can have all the men that ‘need to be handled’. (too much work)
Guess what HB? I just bought myself a couple of guns! They aren’t Texas style – a couple of Nerf Super Soakers – HUGE CAPACITY 2.4 litres – 3 modes – great range! Getting ready for summer. 🙂 I have a nice spot right by the lake. Just got back in town for a family birthday.
dove Said:
Some women appreciate a REAL MAN. Even if they take a little handling.
@ M Devolin:
Oh no, I didn’t mean you at all. You probably missed alot of dialogue over the winter. Yamit is very old school when it comes to women. I am ‘new’ school. Thank G-d!
I must have missed something, Dove. I don’t know what you mean by saying you are not a doormat. If I said something that offended you, I apologize. G-D forbid you should be a doormat for anyone!
M Devolin Said:
You’re not his type, I, however, am always messing with him.
@ M Devolin:
That is your perogative. You are not a woman and I am not a doormat!
@ the phoenix:
When I get hit on for charity…I just say point blank that my charity goes to my people – The Jews.
“I told him that I would LOVE to but my garden hose is not long enough….”
Laughing SO hard right now! LOL
@Dove
Bring on the Rangers!
Dove, it was not my intention to disrespect Yamit in any way, shape or form. I was not contending with what he said but when and where he said it. It is not my intention ever to contend or demean Jewish Halacha. I have nothing but a deep respect for Yamit, even when he might say something that angers me. And besides, I don’t want to mess with him. Ever.
Just for the record.
@ dove:
A screaming W.H.Y.!!!???!!!
Just wonderful…
Taking yet AGAIN the high road only to be spat upon.
Eeeeenough!!
When they had the floods in Pakistan some idiot knocked on my door and asked if I would like to contribute to the ‘flood campaign’ … I told him that I would LOVE to but my garden hose is not long enough….
Where exactly are all the displaced ones from gush katif today????
Does the name mavi marmara ring a bell??!
There are no words!!!
@ M Devolin:
Here you go Dev. This will probably get Yamits head in a knot!
Magen David Adom Offers Medical Equipment and Personnel
Turkey has not officially requested help from the Jewish State; neither has it responded to the offer made by Magen David Adom to Turkey’s Red Crescent.
A Magen David Adom spokesperson said Israel could provide valuable assistance with medical equipment and expertise as well as rescue workers
@ yamit82:
Rightly or wrongly, I understand that it is the collected wisdom of the orthodox that our return to the land and the gathering of the exiles was to be at the hand of Moshiach who has yet to make the scene. Therefore they don’t see the current state of affairs as a heralding of the Messianic age. This I think explains much of their attitude.
@ M Devolin:
lol. I am the same way some people call it fickle. The Bruins fans were quite nasty with vicious racists remarks so I am glad they lost!
plus….the Canadiens are the only Canadian team left in the playoffs.
Don’t know what I feel about that, Dove. I always cheer for the Bruins when the Leafs lose (as they usually do!). But the Canadiens are the only team in it from north of the border. So go Canadiens!
Dove asked me a while back, “Do you think all Jews are just automatically saints because their Jews?” Those who harbour such beliefs are potential antisemites.
When Jews publicly quote the Jewish law about not risking the life of a Jew to save the life of a non-Jew (or something similar, as a Jewish guy boasted to me lately, that “a million Goyim souls are not worth one Jewish soul”), it’s often never pointed out that causing the death of one man to save another is not a wise move. Bad math. Jew for non-Jew or non-Jew for Jew. And when this law is proclaimed out of hubris and insouciantly, it only charms the mind of the antisemites of this world (especially the typical myth-prone Christian) into believing and perpetuating the most common canards about Jews, that they are conspiratorial, that they are demonic, that they are poisoning wells, etc.
Thankfully Jews, like the non-Jews of this world, are quite able to “explain away rabbinical injunctions when the spirit so desires…” and so save the life of other human beings, whether Jew or non-Jew. “Even when foolishness is successful, it is still foolishness.” Such foolishness is also a “light unto the nations.”
@ M Devolin:
‘Poetic Justice’
The Canadiens just beat the Bruins! 🙂
“Did Israel have to get involved – especially with everything else she is trying to contend with? Of coarse not! But that is what we DO as Jews – wherever we can we ‘rescue those who have been unjustly sentenced to death.”
Well said, Dove. I was expecting today to read in the papers that Israel will be sending rescue teams to Turkey to help at the site of the mine disaster.
I see f-head is posting again.
“…the need to cling to people, any sort of people…” -Ayn Rand
Voltaire a wise antisemite once said: “If the Jews would ever regain their country they would sell it.”
bernard ross Said:
That’s mostly true although there were important rabbis who disagreed like Rabbi Goren.
Excerpts from Shiur
Read More
@ dove:
Christianity is a faith not a people, not a nation and trhey do not relate to their co-coreligionists as either a personal or national responsibility. Most of the sensitivity to the plight of the girls is based on Western concepts of humanism not christianity. They are not their brothers keepers because they do not relate to other christians as brothers or sisters.
According to Jewish Law it is forbidden to risk the lives of any Jews for the sake of any non Jew. Any rabbi who tells you different is no real rabbi. Jews are permitted to help non Jews only when the lives of the Jews are not put at risk.
Exceptions are when it’s perceived Jews will be put at risk from the gentiles if they don’t try to help.
@ bernard ross:
@ the phoenix:
They are so rapped up in vapid rituals they ignore the big stuff the hard stuff. They are atheists who practice Jewish rituals and it’s doubtful they really believe in G-d. For if they did they would be moved to rise up against such rulings and behavior of a government who acts in contradiction to the Torah and our sages of blessed memory.
No government whether he be a PM or King has the right to violate the Torah and the commandments of our G-d.
And they scorned the desirable land…” Psalm 106
“One knows how to explain away rabbinical injunctions when the spirit so desires…” 🙁
Of coarse this should be a concern. Have Jews not been subject to forced conversions before? Anyone else heard of the game plan? One world religion led by an anti-christ?
@ bernard ross:
again, kudos mr. Ross. VERY WELL SAID
Yidvocate Said:
It is my understanding that Dayan and GOI got the permission and blessing of the Rabbis.
More importantly, please inform me of any massive protests, coming from the Rabbi’s over the last few decades, against muslim sovereignty over the Mount or against the the giving away of YS. Remember, these are the same ones who attend a funeral with 750,000! It is my view that protests against any giving away of eretz Yisroel or any sites of Jewish holiness or sacredness should be LED FIRST BY THE RABBIS.
I have read of their reasons, and excuses, where they have clothed themselves in holiness for not taking a stand or giving blessing to the giveaways. I do not buy one shred of it!
@ bernard ross:
I thought it was Moshe Dayan who gave away the Mount and GOI trying to give away Y&S. What do the rabbis have to do with it?
Apparently handing over the Temple Mount to the Muslims or YS was not a problem for the Rabbi’s. I would have expected that the site of the Temple would have been more sacrosanct than the Tomb of King David.
If the orthodox who can send 750,000 to a Rabbi’s funeral could do the same every week wrt the Temple Mount and YS there would then be NO QUESTION as to those being given away. Their excuse about not ascending the Mount is irrelevant as they may protest at the foot of the Mount, without ascending, and demand that NO ONE ascends. Their stories are disingenuous and self serving at their convenience. Perhaps the Jews need new Rabbi’s as well as new political leaders.
The “Rabbis appear to have had no problem in the giving away of the Kotel to the muslims or in the giving away of YS. THEY are the ones who have set the precedent for the current give away and the future give aways. Nothing in YS should ever have been put under the muslim and I blame the Rabbi’s and the religious sector who are forever haggling. If there was ever a question then nothing should be given away. Which Rabbi demands the sovereignty of the Mount or of YS?
The same Rabbis who arrive at a funeral with 750,000 NEVER demand sovereignty. They must blame themselves for the current state of affairs, they are severely lacking in any claims to religious leadership, or any other, of the Jewish people. They also advised the Jews to die in Europe.
@ CuriousAmerican:
If the Holy Ari says it’s King David’s tomb then that’s good enough for me and should be for you too.
Quite apart from the lunacy of voluntarily giving away any grain of sand of our G-d given land to the Catholics, what about all the ancient Jewish relics they have horded in the Vatican that they not only refuse to return but don’t even let us inspect? Hun, how about that before we even begin to discuss giving them access to any part of our land.
The GOI constantly proves to be the enemy of the Jewish people.
We have met the enemy and it is US!
NEVER.
If it is really King David’s Tomb than why wouldn’t it stay in Israeli or Jewish hands ?
Better to give the Dome of the Rock to the Catholic Church, leave the Al Aqsa Mosque to the Muslims, and put a Multi-Faith Tribunal in charge of the entire Temple Mount !
Get the Jewish and Christian-hating WAQF off the Mount ! and let all faith communities share and pray on the Mount.
Regardless. It is still JEWISH property. Handing anything over to the Vatican is absurd….especially when they owe millions in back taxes.
What is this government trying to do? Put us under Roman rule?
Egad! What histrionic idiocy?!
Catholicism is dying. No one will convert to Catholicism.
Evangelicalism is growing, NOT Catholicism; and Evangelicals are rather iconoclastic. They do not place high value in shrines, or relics; but are rather focused solely on the written words of the Bible.
This to me is absurdity to argue over.
If you want to say it must remain under Israeli sovereignty, then FINE!
But do not tell me it is David’s Tomb, when the Bible indicates he was buried elsewhere in the City of David – what the Arabs call Silwan.
The site is neither David’s Tomb nor the site of the Last Supper. Very little survived the Roman Conquest in 70 AD, and later re-conquest in second century.
In fact, the Bible says David was buried elsewhere.
I cannot believe people are making a religious war over this.
If one wants to assert Israeli sovereignty, that is one thing – and I would agree with that – but if anyone asserts it is David’s Tomb – or the site of the Last Supper of Jesus, then such a person, of whatever religious affiliation, is crazy.