The Temple-Project=
The Center-Piece o=
f a
Sustainable Solution to the Middle East Conflict (2008_11_26)
Since the beginnin=
gs
of the Zionist immigration movement in the 19th century, the
Temple Mount in Jerusalem has come repeatedly to the attention of the world=
as
a major source of conflict between Muslims and Jews; on account of the
deep religious feelings attached to this place on both sides it has ev=
en
become the emotional center and, consequently, the flashpoint of the vast n=
ew
conflict which we call “the Middle East conflict”.
The Middle East
conflict has, of course, become very complex – with its religious
dimension being largely overlooked in the face of its overwhelming material
dimension, and too often additionally treated as taboo for ideological reas=
ons.
But there are a ser=
ies
of factors which a true observer cannot overlook:
To
orthodox Jews the site of the Holy of Holies of their ancient Temple is sti=
ll
so sacred today – nearly 2000 years after the Romans destroyed it =
211;
that most of them are not allowed to enter any of the area of the Temple Mo=
unt,
lest they desecrate the Holy ground by inadvertently stepping on it.
Muslims hardly know about that. To them the entire area is a mosque,
“Haram ash-Sharif” – after Me=
cca
and Medina the third most holy place in the world, because from there their
Prophet Mohammed ascended to the Heavens. Jews are
excluded; they therefore have no way of
exploring the site or of determining the exact location of their
ancient Holy of Holies – not to speak of a
reconstruction of their Temple.
This exclusion is not only frustrating to religious Jews,
it necessarily makes Muslims fear for their sanctuaries. And even in t=
he
event of successful peace negotiations this place will again and ag=
ain
give rise to serious flare-ups in tension unless there is a solution to it.=
Hence =
this
proposal:
In a surprising wa=
y it
turns the conflict-laden idea of a Third Temple into a means of peace able =
to
reconcile the three Abrahamic religions.
How?
As we have seen, the Muslims, not
the Jews, hold the main key to peace: real and lasting peace can
only be brought about if the Muslims make an offer to the Jews, providing t=
hem
with the space for an eventual Third Temple. The sanctuary of the Muslims, =
of
course, and that is the entire surface of Haram
ash-Sharif, must remain untouched. But, according to Jewish Halacha, the space for a New Temple depends upon the
location of the Holy of Holies of the previous Temples; it is therefore tie=
d to
the Temple Mount. How can a solution be found to this seemingly irresolvable
conflict?
The space needed w=
ill
have to be provided on a platform very high above the location of the Holy =
of
Holies of the Temple destroyed by the Romans – which certainly will n=
ot
be above the Dome of the Rock, and not above the Al Aq=
sa
mosque, as it may seem from the very crude diagram you will also find =
on
this website.
For Muslims to be =
able
to agree to such a construction, a common basis is needed – and it is
already there, even twofold: the shared father Abraham will lay the
foundation to that common project and the shared law-giver Moses will provi=
de
its legal protection. However, an Abrahamic-Mos=
aic
solution calls for one more party: the Christians. Only by taking them in a=
nd
creating a common sanctuary with separate levels for each of the three fait=
hs
can the new structure become the universally recognized symbol needed to
generate lasting peace.
As a result , symbolizedby the oneness of =
this
new sanctuary, which will be able to claim the loyalty of the devotees of a=
ll
three faiths and thus guarantee the resulting peace. – Thereby someth=
ing
like a bigger “tribe” will be created – most important for
people who often rely on proven tribal strategies in their methods of confl=
ict
resolution.
This vision has be=
en
born in the aftermath of 9/11. It has been discussed extensively on German =
TV,
and it has won worldwide approval from competent parties. Since both the Sa=
udi
Ambassador to Germany, Professor Osama Shobokshi, and
Rabbi David Rosen, the Chairman of the International Jewish
Committee which represents World Jewry, like the idea very much, it ca=
n be
only a matter of time until this vision becomes a reality.
If you wish to
visualize its realization, you are invited to travel on a mental journey to=
a
time when Jews, Christians, and Muslims will live together peacefully in mu=
tual
respect. In that future time you will find this pan-Abrahamic
sanctuary, as the spiritual center of the peace that has been achieved with
such difficulty. [To help you on your way in this mental journey =
you
may wish to follow the paper I presented in 2006 to a Middle East conferenc=
e at
the Royal Jordanian Institute for Interfaith Studies: http://www.temple-project.=
de/Paper%20for%20wocmes2%20Amman%202006.htm
More information y=
ou
will find at www.temple-project.de.