Monday's Jerusalem Day observances, commemorating Jerusalem's liberation, traditionally draw religious Zionist groups to the capital in celebration of the city's reunification and restored access to Judaism's holiest sites. These annual pilgrimages culminate in emotional prayer services at the Western Wall, where thousands gather for thanksgiving ceremonies.

Yet a growing chorus of religious voices now advocates moving beyond the Western Wall entirely, urging Jews to pray directly on the Temple Mount itself. This unprecedented shift has ignited fierce debate within Orthodox circles, pitting traditionalists against those seeking to reclaim Judaism's most sacred space.

The controversy stems from a historical ruling by Israel's Chief Rabbinate, supported by the vast majority of the country's rabbis, prohibiting Jewish ascent to the Temple Mount altogether. However, mounting challenges to this decision in recent years have prompted renewed theological examination of the issue. We consulted several prominent rabbis to understand their positions on this divisive matter.

"The people of Israel must be in their complete state"

Rabbi David Stav, who leads the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization and serves as rabbi of Shoham, articulated fierce opposition to Temple Mount ascent during our discussion. "We believe the Temple can be rebuilt only when the people of Israel achieve unity and moral purity of the highest order, alongside adherence to specific purity laws governing the Mount. Currently, these essential conditions remain unfulfilled.

"This spiritual preparation is necessary to make us worthy even of Jerusalem itself. The notion of ascending the Mount for prayer in our current spiritual state represents a fundamentally flawed approach. Temple Mount ascent will become possible only when the people of Israel reach their complete spiritual state."

"Each person should act according to his rabbi"

Rabbi Hagai Lundin, who heads the Holon Hesder Yeshiva and directs the study hall at Ono Academic College, acknowledged that while he personally refrains from Temple Mount ascent, "each person should act according to his rabbi."

He elaborated, "The question of whether to pray at the Western Wall versus the Temple Mount has generated years of controversy. Most religious authorities currently rule against Temple Mount ascent. Yet today, certain voices argue that the security situation and national considerations have strengthened the case for Temple Mount access. I personally choose not to ascend and believe we can strengthen our sovereignty and connection to the Temple Mount through alternative means."

"Prayer at the Temple Mount is preferable"

Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, founder and director of the Temple Institute and head of the Temple Yeshiva in Jerusalem's Old City, advocates the opposite approach entirely. "While the Western Wall functions like an enormous synagogue with special sanctity for prayer within the ancient walls, Temple Mount prayer remains superior. This principle applies throughout the year and holds particular significance on Jerusalem Day.

"Temple Mount prayer carries a different meaning and receives greater heavenly acceptance. This concept appears in King Solomon's dedication prayer for the Temple, where he invokes the word 'prayer' in various forms 24 times. This emphasis demonstrates the paramount importance of prayer on the Mount – the actual Temple site."

"Clean hands and pure heart"

Rabbi and author Chaim Navon presents a nuanced middle position, arguing that Temple Mount ascent demands exceptional spiritual elevation. "My revered teacher, Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein of blessed memory, believed certain areas remained halachically permissible to enter. When I once asked why he personally avoided Temple Mount ascent despite this ruling, he referenced Psalms: 'Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord?' The answer provided is 'Clean hands and pure heart.' Only someone achieving complete heart purity and entirely clean hands can ascend the Temple Mount and stand before the Divine. He concluded, 'I have not yet reached this level.'"

Rabbi Navon continued, "While I question whether such an elevated standard is truly required, hearing this from my teacher has left me emotionally unable to summon the spiritual courage for Temple Mount ascent. Those who have achieved greater spiritual completeness may ascend in sanctity and purity, but they must never disparage those who find fulfillment in Western Wall prayer. The Western Wall possesses inherent holiness, sanctified further by centuries of worship from countless Jewish faithful."

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To explore this, we spoke with two experts on religions and their connection to the city – Professor Eyal Ben Eliyahu from the University of Haifa and Dr. Daniella Talmon-Heller from Ben-Gurion University.

Judaism: Holiness developed gradually

Professor Ben Eliyahu begins by noting that even in Judaism, Jerusalem became sacred later than commonly believed, and the process was slow.

"In the Bible, in the Five Books of Moses, Jerusalem is not mentioned at all. This is an interesting point where the Torah and the Quran are equal – because the city is not mentioned in either. The first place Jerusalem is mentioned is in the Book of Joshua, but even there, there is no special relationship to the city. The first time it becomes sacred is when King David brings the Ark of the Covenant to it. After him, King Solomon builds the Temple there. Later, in the Book of Chronicles II, it is mentioned that the Temple was built on Mount Moriah. This note throws us back to the story of the binding of Isaac and adds to the city's holiness," Professor Ben Eliyahu said.

Professor Ben Eliyahu adds that after the biblical period, the question arose of why Jerusalem is barely mentioned in it. Maimonides answered that the city was hidden to prevent quarrels between the tribes and so that the nations of the world would not want to conquer it. The sages during the Second Temple period and afterward also intensified the city's holiness and established circles around it – the Temple Mount as the holiest, then the entire city, and finally all of the Land of Israel.

Christianity: Problematic, political, and complex holiness

Professor Ben Eliyahu emphasizes that Jerusalem's holiness for Christianity was established from political motives.

"When examining the Christian attitude toward Jerusalem, you see that it is very complex. Jerusalem rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and he also prophesied its destruction. Jesus was crucified in the city and did not even sleep there when he arrived. Christianity was shaped in the Galilee – which is why to this day the Pope does not sleep in Jerusalem when visiting the land. Christians speak of the heavenly Jerusalem. The one who nevertheless sanctified the city, mainly for political reasons, was the Byzantine Emperor Constantine, during whose time the place of Jesus's crucifixion was discovered at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher," Professor Ben Eliyahu said.

Dr. Talmon-Heller adds that the process of sanctifying the city began because Jesus acted and was crucified there.

"Helena, the mother of Constantine, discovered through a miracle the place of the crucifixion and the cross on which he was crucified. She built the church at the site. During this period, Christianity was not interested in the Temple Mount, but when the Crusaders arrived, they saw the Islamic buildings on the Temple Mount – the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque – and appropriated the place for themselves. Initially, the King of Jerusalem resided there, and later the Templar order. Additionally, Christian holiness was also strengthened with the establishment of the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus walked to the crucifixion, by the Franciscan order during the Mamluk period," Dr. Talmon-Heller said.

Islam: Immediate but different holiness

Regarding Islam, Dr. Talmon-Heller notes that Jerusalem's holiness was immediate from the beginning of Islam.

"Jerusalem is indeed not mentioned in the Quran, but it was Muhammad's first direction of prayer for the first 12 years. Already in 692, the Dome of the Rock was built, and later Al-Aqsa Mosque as well – both in great splendor. Jerusalem is third in holiness in Islam, after Mecca and Medina, so there is an Islamic pilgrimage and continuous investment in its development by Muslim rulers," Dr. Talmon-Heller said.

However, among Shiites, the attitude is different.

"Among Shiites, there is concentration around the graves of the Imams, descendants of Muhammad. The burial place of Ali's son, in the city of Karbala, is considered more sacred than Jerusalem in their eyes, and there are even hints that it is holier than Mecca. Therefore, Shiites devote less attention to Jerusalem," Dr. Talmon-Heller said.

Additional religions and sects

Beyond the three monotheistic religions, it turns out there are additional streams, mainly those that broke away from Christianity, that sanctify Jerusalem.

Professor Ben Eliyahu explains that the Mormons, a half-Christian, half-pagan sect with multiple deities, sanctified Jerusalem.

"They tried to settle there over the years, partly because, according to their tradition, the founders of the religion left Jerusalem for the United States. Therefore, the city symbolizes a spiritual idea for them. Additionally, there is also a practical consideration – parties that had a foothold in the city received many donations and pilgrims," Professor Ben Eliyahu said.

Ben Eliyahu adds that there was also an American-Swedish Protestant utopian sect that operated in the city during the Ottoman period – the American Colony.

"This group, which operated in the 19th century, advocated for equality of property and a strict internal regime. Later, it disbanded, and its descendants now own the famous American Colony Hotel in the city," Professor Ben Eliyahu said.

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Jerusalem is more than a physical place; it is the heartbeat of Jewish identity, a beacon of hope for every Jew, whether they've walked its streets or only dreamed of them. For centuries, Rabbi Yehuda Halevi's timeless poem, "Zion, will you not ask?" has captured the unyielding longing of Jews in exile: "Those who cling to your hem, striving to ascend and grasp the branches of your palms." These words embody the pain of displacement, the yearning for return, and the hope of renewal. Jerusalem Day is not just a celebration of the city's physical liberation but a recommitment to its role as the spiritual and national capital of the Jewish people.

Yet celebration alone is not enough. Jerusalem Day must be a call to action, a moment to build a vision that is both ambitious and practical, not just for the coming decade but for the next half-century.

At the core of this vision is the preservation of Jerusalem's Jewish majority. The city faces a demographic crisis, exacerbated by soaring housing costs that drive young families away. Without urgent measures, Jerusalem's Jewish character risks fading. The residency status granted to East Jerusalem Arabs, which includes benefits like freedom of movement and national insurance, incentivizes their permanent presence in the city. This, coupled with rampant illegal construction, over 25,000 unauthorized structures, predominantly in East Jerusalem, threatens to reshape the city's future. If left unchecked, these trends could erode the Jewish majority within a generation.

The dream of a "Greater Jerusalem," envisioned since the days of Rabin, is slipping away. Uncontrolled construction in surrounding areas, Ramallah to the north, Eizariya and Abu Dis to the east, and Bethlehem to the south, encircles and stifles the city, limiting its growth. From above, Jerusalem appears hemmed in, its potential for expansion curtailed by a ring of illegal buildings.

The current government, with its strong mandate, must seize this critical moment. It must strengthen Jerusalem by expanding neighborhoods like Ma'ale Adumim and Atarot, enforcing building regulations within and around the city, and decisively addressing hostile entities such as UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority operating within its borders. The generations of Jews who yearned for Jerusalem through centuries of exile will not forgive us if, in this era of sovereignty, we allow the city to slip from our grasp.

A responsible vision, one rooted in Jerusalem's ancient Hebrew heritage and committed to its Zionist future, can deliver a lasting gift for the 58th anniversary of its unification: the gift of true sovereignty. Let us answer Jerusalem's call with action, ensuring it remains the eternal capital of the Jewish people for generations to come.

The author is the Jerusalem coordinator for the Regavim movement.

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Reggae singer and Jewish rapper Matisyahu released a video Thursday in honor of Jerusalem Day, the national holiday commemorating the reunification of the capital after the 1967 Six-Day War.

The video opens with Matisyahu addressing the camera, saying, "This is Jerusalem Day and we are going to play 'Jerusalem,' because Jerusalem is the heart and soul of the Jewish people." 

Jerusalem if I forget you… we will not stop until our hostages are free! @bringhomenow pic.twitter.com/FP2jCuVJOm

— Matisyahu (@matisyahu) June 5, 2024

"Jerusalem" is one of Matisyahu's most famous songs and is based on the well-known line from Psalm 137: "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget [its skill]." Psalm 137 is one of the most renowned psalms, symbolizing the Jewish people's longing over 2,000 years of exile to return to their homeland, Israel.

Addressing the current war against the Hamas terror organization, Matisyahu said, "After this war that was started by Hamas on Oct. 7, we will not stop fighting and we will not give up until our hostages are free ... Hamas started this war and Israel will not stop until Hamas has been completely destroyed. They're still holding 120 of our hostages – civilians, men, women, children, elderly – and we won't forget you and we won't stop. 

Some 80 Israelis remain hostage in Gaza, with more bodies held captive by Hamas. 

In the footage, Matisyahu plays his song on a record player while singing along. At one point he holds up a cup with the word "Jerusalem" printed on it.

Jerusalem Day is marked annually on the 28th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. Its central event is the Flag March that this year included thousands of police officers who secured the parade to prevent potential attacks by Palestinians. 

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Over 1,500 new immigrants from around the world participated in a festive musical prayer service organized by OU Israel to mark the 57th anniversary of Jerusalem's reunification during the Six-Day War. The event was held Wednesday morning on the Haas Promenade in Armon HaNatziv, overlooking the Old City and Temple Mount.

Rabbi Avi Berman, executive director of OU Israel, emphasized the significance of the gathering, stating, "I stand and look at the city of Yerushalayim during this festive prayer and see three things that deeply move me. First, the site of the Temple that we all pray will be rebuilt soon. Second, the skyline of Yerushalayim and all the cranes building the city, remind us of the verse God builds up Yerushalayim; 'He gathers the dispersed of Israel.' Third, to see over 1,500 people in the crowd, including so many recent olim, who all came today to give thanks for this miracle of the ingathering of exiles. This is an uplifting time for me every year."

#WATCH: 1500 new olim from around the world participated in a festive prayer service organized by the @OrthodoxUnion at the Armon Hanatziv promenade overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

OU Israel pic.twitter.com/SIAjilmnXK

— Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) June 5, 2024

 The prayer service was led by Rabbi Noam Koenigsberg. Attendees included OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer, who traveled from New York, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Arieh King, and Yehuda Naftali, director of the Jerusalem municipality's Israel Heritage Department.

This marked the ninth year OU Israel has organized this special event aimed at assisting English-speaking immigrants in having a successful integration experience through its various programs.

Rabbi Hauer reflected on the liberation of Jerusalem 57 years ago, saying, "With God's kindness, we merited the return of the Jewish people to the Old City and the Western Wall. Today, we stand here overlooking where the Holy Temple stood, and we thank God for the victory and pray for help in winning this war. May it be that next year we will be able to pray together with those who had been taken hostage and with all of Klal Yisrael at the Holy Temple."

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In celebration of Jerusalem Day, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund has unveiled rare archival photos, offering a glimpse into the historic battles that liberated the city during the War of Independence.

Amidst the backdrop of the ongoing Iron Swords War, KKL-JNF's release of the previously unseen images adds a poignant dimension to the festivities, reminding us of Jerusalem's enduring significance and the sacrifices made to secure its freedom.

The UN partition plan originally earmarked Jerusalem, alongside Bethlehem, as a separate entity under international administration. However, the eruption of the War of Independence saw both Jewish and Arab forces vying for control over the holy city, disregarding international mandates.

In the ensuing conflict, the streets of Jerusalem became a battleground, witnessing fierce engagements between the IDF and a coalition of opposing forces, including Jordanian and Egyptian troops, Arab volunteers, and British allies.

KKL-JNF's collection showcases pivotal moments from this tumultuous period, capturing the raw emotion and heroism of soldiers as they liberated key neighborhoods, such as Katamon, and secured strategic positions like the British police building.

While the IDF liberated Arab neighborhoods in the west and center of the city, the historic Jewish Quarter in East Jerusalem fell to the Jordanian Legion. Jerusalem remained divided between Israel and Jordan from the armistice agreement in April 1949 until the Six-Day War.

Efrat Sinai, director of archives at KKL-JNF, reflected on the significance of the images, "As we commemorate Jerusalem's 57th reunification anniversary, these photos serve as powerful testaments to the resilience of our people and the indomitable spirit that has defined our city throughout history."

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As Jerusalem prepares to mark the 57th anniversary of its reunification, the Israeli Police have approved plans for the annual Flag March to pass through the Damascus Gate – through the Old City's Muslim Quarter – on its way to the Western Wall.

Over 3,000 police officers and border guards will secure the march and other events scheduled for Jerusalem Day. The march will commence at 4 p.m. from Safra Square, proceeding through the Old City's gates, including Damascus Gate, before culminating at the Western Wall plaza with a main ceremony at 7 p.m.

"While recent months have seen thwarted attempted attacks in the capital, there is currently no specific threat regarding the Flag March," a police spokesperson stated. Nonetheless, stringent security measures will be implemented, including aerial surveillance and undercover operations, to identify potential attackers.

Major road closures are expected from 2 p.m., disrupting traffic and public transportation in central Jerusalem. The light rail will operate partially between certain stations from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Jerusalem Day commemorates the reunification of the city during the 1967 Six-Day War, an event of profound historical and religious significance for the Jewish people. Celebrations will include guided tours, lectures, and cultural performances highlighting Jerusalem's rich heritage.

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Wednesday marks the annual Jerusalem Day holiday when Israelis celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli control after the 1967 Six-Day War. However, this year's celebrations are taking place amid heightened tensions and an escalating conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Video: The Flag March in Jerusalem / Credit: Shmuel Buchris and Yoni Rykner

Thousands of Israeli police officers took up positions across Jerusalem in preparation for the yearly march, which includes tens of thousands of flag-bearing Israeli youths marching, dancing, and singing in unison as they make their way across the capital, including through the old city.

Palestinian residents in previous years have often tried to sabotage it, and this year was no exception. Even before the march, there were reported clashes near the Damascus Gate of the old city, which is where the march passes through as they make their way into the Muslim Quarter.

 This year's march occurs against the backdrop of the nearly nine-month-long conflict in Gaza, heightening concerns about potential wider upheaval and violence due to the ongoing Gaza war following the Hamas atrocities.

קיצוניים יהודים הכו פלסטינים ועיתונאים בשער שכם. בהם גם ניר חסון חברינו @nirhasson מחריד !! pic.twitter.com/j5vtSW0dPd

— Yossi Eli (@Yossi_eli) June 5, 2024

Around 1,600 Jews ascended to the Temple Mount starting from the morning hours Wednesday in order to mark and celebrate Jerusalem Day. Dozens of Jews were instructed to stay away from the area in the morning, and around 15 people were detained and arrested for "prayer, singing, and bowing" (Israeli authorities do not allow active worship by Jews on the Temple Mount because of possible clashes with Muslims consider the area to be the third holiest site in Islam and have built there a large mosque spanning the almost the entire plaza). In the afternoon hours, clashes began between Jews and Palestinians in the area of Damascus Gate, where three people were arrested.

Towards the afternoon hours, clashes occurred between Jewish youths and Muslims at Damascus Gate and the Old City. The youths were accompanied along the way by activists and photographers from the left-wing organization "Standing Together" – which as part of its activities in recent months has held "alternative" memorial ceremonies, collected donations for residents of Gaza, and assisted aid trucks in reaching the Strip. During the clashes, photographers and journalists were also injured, including Nir Hasson, a journalist from Haaretz newspaper.

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Ahead of Jerusalem Day, which this year celebrates 57 years since the city was reunified in the 1967 Six-Day War, the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research has published its 38th annual report on the city, which provides an in-depth statistical look at the capital.

With a population of 1,005,900 in 2022, Jerusalem's population is double the size of Tel Aviv's, according to the latest population census figures.

Construction in Jerusalem also hit a new high in 2023, with work beginning on 5,800 new housing units – the largest number to date. In 2023, the labor force participation rate among Arab women in the city continued rising as well, reaching 29%.

While 7,600 new immigrants chose Jerusalem as their first destination in Israel in 2022, continuing an upward trend, the city's overall migration balance remained negative at -7,200 compared to -6,600 the previous year when factoring in those leaving.

The top destinations for those migrating out of Jerusalem were Beit Shemesh (18%), Bnei Brak (4%), Givat Ze'ev (4%), Tel Aviv-Yafo (6%), Modi'in (3%), Beitar Illit (3%), Modi'in Illit (2%), Ma'ale Adumim (2%) and Kochav Ya'akov (1%).

On the education and tourism fronts, Jerusalem led the country with 41,300 students at its institutions of higher learning in the 2022/23 academic year and 2,735,400 foreign tourist overnight stays in 2023.

Public transportation use too was up 13% in 2023 compared to the year before, with light rail ridership increasing 20%.

The report additionally detailed the impacts of the Swords of Iron war, including 13,800 evacuees absorbed in Jerusalem's hotels and homes.

Moreover, there was a spike in jobseekers to 26,000 in November 2023 – double the number prior to the war – before recovering, and an 80% drop in tourist overnight stays in the final quarter of the year.

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Israel deployed over 2,000 police on Thursday ahead of the traditional flag march in Jerusalem's Old City to celebrate its reunification in 1967, two years after the event was marred by terrorist rocket fire.

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Authorities say the beefed-up security is a determined effort to ensure the march passes without violence.

Police have decided to allow the thousands of marchers to take the traditional route through the Old City's Damascus Gate despite an uptick in Israeli-Palestinian violence over the past year and heavy fighting between Israel and Palestinian terrorists in Gaza last week.

Early Thursday, hundreds of Jews were ascending to the Temple Mount. Among them was at least one Israeli cabinet minister from the country's right-wing government, according to Jewish activists leading the visits.

Two years ago, an 11-day flare-up between Israel and Palestinian terrorists in Gaza began after the march due to Hamas launching provocative rocket fire. The terrorist group has urged Palestinians to confront the parade this year.

Chief Supt. Yoram Segal, a senior Jerusalem police official, told reporters Wednesday that authorities were determined to prevent violence this time around. He said some 2,500 officers were being deployed throughout the area, both to ensure safety and to react quickly toward any potential violence.

"We are going to deal harshly with anyone who tries to disturb the peace," he said. He said past troubles were caused by a tiny minority of people, but said there would be no tolerance for incitement or violence that could "endanger the people that are along the route or living along the route."

Segal said police have been working "hand in hand" with Jewish and Palestinian community leaders to keep things peaceful. He also confirmed that there had been a number of pre-emptive arrests of people who were believed to be planning violent disruptions. He declined to elaborate.

On Wednesday, Gaza's ruling Hamas terrorist group called on Palestinians to oppose the parade. "We ask the people of Jerusalem to mobilize the masses to confront the march of the flags in Jerusalem tomorrow," said Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas official in Gaza.

Hamas urged Palestinians in the West Bank and inside Israel to "clash with the occupation." It also said it would hold a demonstration, with people waving Palestinian flags along Gaza's heavily fortified frontier with Israel. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for the Palestinian president, said allowing the march to snake through the Palestinian areas of the Old City "will only lead to a rise in tension and could lead to an explosion."

In a test ahead of the parade, about 300 Jews were visiting Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site early Thursday, according to Beyadenu, an activist group that promotes Jewish visits to the site. Police were seen escorting groups of Jewish visitors walking through the compound and several coalition lawmakers also arrived at the site.

Under longstanding arrangements cemented by the High Court of Justice, Jews are permitted to visit the site but not pray there. The parade comes as fighting in the West Bank and east Jerusalem is at its highest level in two decades. It also comes just days after a ceasefire took effect ending five days of heavy fighting between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group in Gaza.

Hamas stayed on the sidelines during the fighting, and Israel avoided attacking the group in an effort by both sides to contain the violence. But if unrest erupts in Jerusalem, Hamas could enter the fray.

"The resistance is ready to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevent the Judaization of Jerusalem," al-Masri said.

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