Record Jewish Visits to Temple Mount During Sukkot Holiday

A record number of 8,690 Jewish visitors ascended the Temple Mount during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday, according to reports. The site saw prayers and singing, with the participation of rabbis and Knesset members.

Rabbi Elisha Wolfson, head of the Temple Mount Yeshiva, described the surge in visits as a revelation of divine love and a sign of the Shekhinah returning to Zion. He expressed hope that the large number of devoted visitors would contribute to the rebuilding of the Temple.

Among the visitors was Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit. He stated that despite the pain of past events, the current Sukkot holiday is a time for joy, citing progress made since October. Ben-Gvir asserted that Hamas's goal of defeating Israel had failed, declaring, "We are the homeowners on the Temple Mount! We are the homeowners in the prisons. We have turned the lives of their terrorists into hell." He also mentioned distributing weapons and opening emergency readiness classes, framing the current period as one of "absolute victory."

Ben-Gvir concluded his remarks by praying on the Temple Mount for "absolute victory, complete redemption, death to all terrorists, and sovereignty here in the most important place for the Jewish people." He reiterated that Israel had defeated its enemies, beginning with their presence on the Temple Mount.