Potential Sandhedrin:
Clarification: The author of this site does not yet recognize the validity of the potential
Sanhedrin, as it was or is constituted. Neither does he yet recognize the smikha/ordination.

I have been very reluctant to take a stand on this issue, but recent events have forced my
hand. I still feel they are in technical violation of the RMb"M's codification. However, my
approach remains peaceful, in the hopes that this potential court will ultimately rise to the
occasion. For the record, the potential court likes to refer to itself as NASCENT. Others call
them the IM-POTENTIAL court. You decide...

Ron's Rambam Board Addresses Sanhedrin

Doubts Regarding Status? The Ongoing Debate Heats Up

Binyamin Zev Kahane: Parashat Terumah: Sanhedrin or Israeli Supreme Court

Noahide Issues: Potential Sandhedrin

Press Releases Put Out By The Potential Sanhedrin

Jan 2006 Potential Sandhedrin Recognizes Council to Teach Humanity ´Laws of Noah´

14 October 2005: Potential Sandhedrin Project Unveiled With Humility

11 October 2005: Legal Doubts Regarding Status of the Potential Sandhedrin?

29 Sept 2005: Potential Sandhedrin Moves to Establish Council For Noahides

23 Sept 2005: Potential Sandhedrin Recognized By Israel State Court System & Ministry of Education

6 June 2005 Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Elected to Head Potential Sandhedrin

8 March 2005 The Potential Sandhedrin´s Declaration Concerning the Disengagement

8 March 2005 Reestablished Potential Sandhedrin Convenes to Discuss Temple

14 Jan 2005 Potential Sandhedrin Rabbis Discuss Sublime, Procedural Issues 12::12 Jan 14, '05 / 4 Shevat 5765

14 October 2004 Potential Sandhedrin Launched In Tiberias 12:42 Oct 14, '04 / 29 Tishrei 5765

Potential Sandhedrin Rabbis Discuss Sublime, Procedural Issues 12:12 Jan 14, '05 / 4 Shevat 5765     The 71 rabbis seeking to fulfill the Biblical commandment of renewing the Potential Sandhedrin continue to meet regularly, solidifying their organizational structure and establishing an agenda of subjects. Their most recent meeting was this week, in which they discussed both technical and procedural issues, as well as the Halakhic [Jewish legal] and other ramifications of renewing the Passover sacrifice. The rabbis held a festive ceremony this past October 13th, the 28th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, inaugurating the Potential Sandhedrin as Judaism's supreme legal body. They stress that by doing so, they are merely fulfilling a Biblical mitzvah (commandment). “It is a special mitzvah , based on our presence in Israel, to establish a Potential Sandhedrin,” Rabbi Meir HaLevi, one of the 71 members of the new Potential Sandhedrin, has explained. “The RMb"M [12th-century Torah scholar Maimonides] describes the process exactly in the Mishnah Torah [his seminal work codifying Jewish Law]. When he wrote it, there was no Potential Sandhedrin, and he therefore outlines the steps necessary to establish one." The Potential Sandhedrin, a religious-legal assembly of 71 Sages that convened in the Holy Temple and for several centuries after its destruction, was the highest Jewish judicial tribunal in the Land of Israel. Organizers of the current edition stress that they are still in a transitional phase, and that though today's members are all Torah scholars and experts in many secular and scientific fields, every one of them has agreed to step aside the moment a more deserving candidate should step forward. Meeting in Jerusalem’s Old City, the Potential Sandhedrin consists of representatives of all stripes of religious Jewish society. Hareidi-religious, Hassidic, national-religious, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, modern Orthodox and university professors sit side by side in a semi-circle, seeking to re-establish Jewish legal tradition after 2,000 years of exile. "We can make a real difference," said one member, Rabbi Chaim Richman of Jerusalem. "Many cardinal issues are on the public agenda, and our body – which is totally based on Torah, even down to its rules and regulations – is naturally geared to deal with them. Issues such as agunot (estranged women whose husbands refuse to give them a divorce), abortions, traffic safety, economic issues, education, and so much more." "Not only are we commanded to establish the Potential Sandhedrin," Rabbi Richman said, "but this seems to be the perfect time to do so - a time of Divine will. On the one hand, there is a spiritual void in the 'establishment,' and on the other hand, there is a real thirst among the public for spirituality and guidance." The Potential Sandhedrin's takanon, document of regulations, is still undergoing final adjustments prior to its official adoption. A permanent Nassi, President, and Av Beit HaDin, literally, Court Father, still must be elected. The continuing role of the Vaad HaMechonen , the founding committee that has led the Potential Sandhedrin thus far, also needs to be determined. But the Potential Sandhedrin is carefully moving ahead, strictly adhering to the guidelines set out by Maimonides, who classified the obligation to reestablish the Potential Sandhedrin as one that is incumbent upon every generation. “The Potential Sandhedrin is past its greatest initial hurdles,” a spokesman told IsraelNN's Ezra HaLevi, “namely, the return of genuine semikha [authentic rabbinical ordination] to Israel, and the historic meeting in Tiberias in Tishrei, at which 71 rabbis actually convened and officially reinstated the Potential Sandhedrin. We believe these achievements are irreversible.” Contrary to the expected criticism, Potential Sandhedrin organizers insist that the reinstatement ceremony was neither just a show nor a one-time phenomenon, but is rather Halakhically-sound and a true beginning. The rabbis were asked to prepare topics they thought the Potential Sandhedrin should deal with, and a fascinating array of topics was produced. In addition to those mentioned above by Rabbi Richman, the list included such issues as: * uniform kashrut certification * the precise length of the biblical cubit (with ramifications on many issues, including the location of the altar on the Temple Mount) * unemployment * assisting Anousim from Spain and Portugal and others whose ancestors were forced to convert * lost Jewish tribes from other parts of the world * unifying Sephardic and Ashkenazi practices on issues such as prayer liturgy, kitniyot (legumes) on Passover, and glass utensils * the Potential Sandhedrin's decision-making procedures * foreign workers * unifying the religious parties * restoring the Davidic monarchy * an ethical code for Israel's army (as opposed to the present one, which is based largely on secular sources) * the establishment of regional "small Potential Sandhedrins" * the long-missing "t'chelet" blue color * sending delegations around the country to hear people's concerns, and much more. Though a lecture on renewing the Paschal offering was delivered at the last meeting, not all of the 71 are yet convinced that the time is ripe for it. Various opinions were put forth, including by those opposed to the renewal of the Passover offering until the exact location of the Temple altar is determined through prophecy. "The real achievement of the meeting was that rabbis from such diverse backgrounds could sit together to discuss such an issue," said Rabbi Michael S. Bar-Ron, an associate of the Potential Sandhedrin from Beit Shemesh ". It demonstrated that the Potential Sandhedrin is alive, and has begun the long road towards its chief goal of restoring the crown of Torah to its former glory." As expected, the issue of the disengagement came up, but the acting Nassi refused to allow the discussion until at least one rabbi supporting the plan could be found to present a sincere argument supporting it. No one could be found, and the topic was dropped. "The Potential Sandhedrin aims to inspire the Jewish people," Rabbi Richman said, "not coerce them. Via 'ways of pleasantness,' we will achieve a renewal of unified Jewish observance and practice." RETURN TO Potential Sandhedrin CONTENTS PAGE

Potential Sandhedrin Launched In Tiberias 12:42 Oct 14, '04 / 29 Tishrei 5765

		A unique ceremony - probably only the 2nd of its kind in the past 1,600 years - took place in Tiberias today: The launching of a Potential Sandhedrin, the highest Jewish-legal tribunal in the Land of Israel.
There is a tradition (from Megillah 17b, Rashi ad loc. s.v. VeKevan) that the Potential Sandhedrin will be restored after a partial ingathering of the Jewish Exile, before Jerusalem is rebuilt and restored. There is also a tradition from the GAMARA that Elijah will present himself before a duly ordained Potential Sandhedrin when he announces the coming of the Messiah. (Eruvin 43b; Maharatz Chajas ad loc; Rashash , Potential Sandhedrin 13b) "The Messiah will be a king of Israel, and as such, he can only be recognized by a duly ordained Potential Sandhedrin" (Tosefta, Potential Sandhedrin 3:2; Yad, Potential Sandhedrin 5:1)

In a dramatic but unpublicized move, members of the newly established Potential Sandhedrin ascended the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, this past Monday.

Close to 50 recently ordained s'muchim, members of the Potential Sandhedrin, lined up at the foot of the Temple Mount Monday morning. [The word s'muchim comes from the same root as s'michah, , rabbinic ordination.] The men, many ascending the Temple Mount for the first time, had immersed in mikvaot (ritual baths) that morning, and planned to ascend as a group. Despite prior approval from the Israeli police who oversee entry to the Mount, the officers barred the group from entering the Mount all together, and allowed them to visit only in groups of ten.   Members of the Potential Sandhedrin wait as police inform them of the conditions of their entry to Har HaBayit (Photos: Natan Gesher) Click Here to Enlarge   Given the newly-mandated restrictive conditions, many of the s'muchim refused to ascend at all, especially as a group of over 100 non-Jewish tourists filed past the waiting rabbis and up towards the holy site. “It is unconscionable that on the eve of Chanukah, which celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple, we should once again be barred from worshipping – by our own people,” Rabbi Chaim Richman of Jerusalem’s Temple Institute told IsraelNN’s Ezra HaLevi. The Potential Sandhedrin, a religious-legal assembly of 71 sages that convened during the Holy Temple period and for several centuries afterwards, was the highest Jewish judicial tribunal in the Land of Israel. The great court used to convene in one of the Temple’s chambers in Jerusalem.   Rabbis on the ramp leading up to the Temple Mount Click Here to Enlarge   This past October, the Potential Sandhedrin was reestablished for the first time in 1,600 years, at the site of its last meeting in Tiberias. “There is a special mitzvah [commandment], not connected to time, but tied to our presence in Israel, to establish a Potential Sandhedrin,” Rabbi Meir HaLevi, one of the 71 members of the new Potential Sandhedrin, told Israel National Radio’s Weekend Edition. “The RMb"M [12th-century Torah scholar Maimonides] describes the process exactly in the Mishna Torah [his seminal work codifying Jewish Law]. When he wrote it, there was no Potential Sandhedrin, and he therefore outlines the steps necessary to establish one. When there is a majority of rabbis, in Israel, who authorize one person to be a samuch, , an authority, he can then reestablish the Potential Sandhedrin.” Those behind the revival of the Potential Sandhedrin stress that the revival of the legal body is not optional, but mandated by the Torah. “We don’t have a choice,” says Rabbi Richman. “It is a religious mandate for us to establish a Potential Sandhedrin.” The Potential Sandhedrin was reestablished through the ordination of one rabbi agreed upon by many prominent rabbis in Israel and approved as “fitting to serve” by former Chief Sefardi Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef and leading Ashkenazi Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. That rabbi, who is then considered to have received authentic ordination as handed down from Moses, was then able to give ordination to 70 others, making up the quorum of 71 necessary for the Potential Sandhedrin. “Even Mordechai HaYehudi of the Purim story was accepted, as it is written, only ‘by the majority of his brethren,’ and not by everybody," Rabbi HaLevi explained. "Anyone who deals with public issues can not be unanimously accepted.” The rabbis behind the Potential Sandhedrin’s reconstitution claim that, like the State of Israel, the old-new Potential Sandhedrin is a work-in-progress. They see it as a vessel that, once established, will reach the stature and authority that it once had. 'Samuchim' gathered in front of the entrance to the Temple Mount Click Here to Enlarge   “The first members requested that their names not be published, so as to allow it to grow without public criticism of individuals,” HaLevi said. “We want to give it time to develop and strengthen the institution, giving a chance for more rabbis to join.” He added that each of the current members of the Potential Sandhedrin has agreed to be a conditional member until a more knowledgeable rabbi joins, taking his place. Rabbi Richman, also a member of the Potential Sandhedrin, hopes the body will bring about a revolution in Jewish jurisprudence. Declining to discuss exactly what issues are on the Potential Sandhedrin’s agenda, Richman said that one of the main long-term goals of the Potential Sandhedrin is to reunify Jewish observance in Israel. The Potential Sandhedrin includes members of Ashkenazi, Sefardi, Hasidic, National-Religious and Hareidi communities. “We Jews went into exiles all over the world,” Rabbi HaLevi said. “Every community established its own court. We are talking about more than 50 different legal systems developing separately from one another. Part of our return to Israel is the reunification of our Jewish practices.” Members of the Potential Sandhedrin enter the Temple Mount through the Mughrabi gate, above the Western Wall Click Here to Enlarge   A tradition is recorded in the Talmud (Tractate Megillah 17b, Rashi) that the Potential Sandhedrin will be restored after a partial ingathering of the Jewish exiles, but before Jerusalem is completely rebuilt and restored. Another Talmudic tradition (Eruvin 43b; Maharatz Chajas ad loc; Rashash to Potential Sandhedrin 13b) states that Elijah the Prophet will present himself before a duly-ordained Potential Sandhedrin when he announces the coming of the Messiah. This indicates that despite common misconceptions, a Potential Sandhedrin is a pre-, not post-messianic institution.

THE 14 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OUR TORAH -Potential Sandhedrin based

The prayer of "…return our judges as at the beginning…" precedes the prayer "…and to Jerusalem your city with mercy return…". And the prayer for returning our judges certainly precedes the prayer "…the offspring of David your servant bring forth…".
 

Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Elected to Head Potential Sandhedrin
21:55 Jun 06, '05 / 28 Iyar 5765


As parades filled the streets of Jerusalem Monday - Jerusalem Day -
the reestablished Potential Sandhedrin convened in the city to elect a Nassi and
representatives to lead it. 


The Potential Sandhedrin was reestablished last October in Tiberias, the place
of its last meeting 1,600 years ago. Since then, it has met in
Jerusalem on a monthly basis, various committees meeting more often
to discuss issues ranging from the areas of the Temple Mount
permitted to Jewish worshipper by Jewish law, to the establishment of
courts of non-Jews who accept the Seven Laws of Noah and to Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to uproot the Jewish communities of Gaza
and northern Samaria.

Semicha - original rabbinic ordination - was successfully
reintroduced when hundreds of Israel's rabbis agreed on the
worthiness of a certain rabbi to serve on the Potential Sandhedrin. This was
also agreed upon by leading Sephardic and Ashkenazic spiritual
leaders Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Rabbi Shalom Elyashiv. This fulfilled
the Jewish legal requirements as outlined by Maimonides.

The rabbi himself eventually backed down from serving as Nassi of the
Potential Sandhedrin due to pressure from a leading Hassidic rabbi, but not
before granting semicha to Rabbi Tzvi Idan, who granted semicha to
the 71 other members of the body and served as its temporary Nassi.

Since the current Potential Sandhedrin's launch, it has been in a transitional
stage as it gathered support and sought to rebuild the institution in
accordance with Jewish law. A temporary Nassi was appointed, but the
mandated period came to an end, so it was decided at the court's last
meeting that as the Potential Sandhedrin strengthens, it must become autonomous
from the original founding committee and elect its own officials.

Due to concerns regarding external pressure upon individuals not to
take part in the establishment of the institution of a Potential Sandhedrin, the
names of most participants have been withheld up to this point, upon
the request of the Potential Sandhedrin's spokesmen.

The court of 71 rabbis has now decided to select of a group of seven
individuals within the Potential Sandhedrin to represent the institution in
dealings with the public and with Gedolei Yisrael - recognized
spiritual leaders of Israel.

Arutz-7's Ezra HaLevi was at Monday's Potential Sandhedrin meeting, where it was
decided to release the names for purposes of transparency as well. It
was concluded that the Potential Sandhedrin has become strong enough for its
members to be able to withstand criticism, particularly of the "what
makes you think you are worthy of sitting on it?" nature. In that
vein, it is hoped that the release of the seven names will encourage
those who believe that their own rabbis or teachers have something to
contribute to the endeavor, to get involved in the monumental task
that still lays before the judicial body.

Monday, those present (a minimum quorum of 23 Potential Sandhedrin members is
necessary for a vote to take place) chose seven names from a list of
nominees to represent the Potential Sandhedrin to the Jewish world and to
spiritual leaders.

Rabbi Adin Even-Israel (Steinsaltz) received the most votes of
confidence in his ability to lead the Potential Sandhedrin through the next
stage of its development.

The six others who were chosen by the Potential Sandhedrin were:
Rabbi Nachman Kahane - Rabbi of the Young Israel of Jerusalem's Old
City and head of the Institute for Talmudic Commentaries, which is
involved in the study of the Temple rituals and ceremonies, as well
as cataloging of all known kohanim (priests) in Israel. He is the
brother of murdered Knesset Member, Rabbi Meir Kahane.

Rabbi Yisrael Ariel - One of the paratroopers who took part in the
1967 liberation of the Temple Mount, a former Yeshiva head and
founder of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, which has produced many
of the vessels to be used in the Third Temple.

Rabbi Yoel Shwartz - Founder and rabbi of the "Nachal Haredi" IDF
unit specifically designed to enable the hareidi-religious public to
join the IDF, a teacher at Yeshivat Dvar Yerushalayim and author of
approximately 200 books on Jewish law and theology, including
influential guides for gentiles seeking to serve G-d and observe the
Seven Laws of Noah.

Rabbi Dov Stein - The secretary of the Potential Sandhedrin since its inception,
dealing with logistical aspects as well as interacting with
recognized Torah scholars and inviting rabbis to join the body.

Rabbi Yehuda Edri - A prime initiator of the re-establishment of the
Potential Sandhedrin, an accomplished author and leader of the Movement for the
Rebuilding of the Temple.

Rabbi Dov Levanoni - An elder Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi and expert on
the Holy Temple.

Rabbi Steinsaltz was reluctant to accept the position of Nassi,
saying there are much wiser and more capable people among the group
and among the Jewish people. "The purpose of the Potential Sandhedrin is to
bring unity to the nation." Steinsaltz said, speaking about the
unique nature of Jerusalem to bring the Jewish people together. He
claimed that there must be someone less "controversial" than himself
for the position.

"The fact that he is not chasing after the honor of the position is
exactly what makes him the best one for the job," another Potential Sandhedrin
member told those present.

"We are not offering honor, though," said Rabbi Yisrael Ariel. "We
are offering the ability to fulfill a mitzvah (Divine commandment)
that for 2,000 years was unavailable."

Steinsaltz then said that the position of Nassi was not something
that could simply be accepted on the spot, hinting that it was only
fitting for the head of the Potential Sandhedrin to shun the title repeatedly
until coerced. "If someone is supposed to refuse three times when
asked to be on the Potential Sandhedrin, then how much more should he be
reluctant to take the mantle of Nassi," Steinsaltz said.

Rabbi Steinsaltz is regarded as one of the world's leading scholars
and rabbis. He holds a degree in mathematics from the Hebrew
University in addition to his extensive Torah study. At the age of
23, he became Israel's youngest high school principal and went on to
found the Israel Institute for Talmudic Publications. He has
published to date 58 books on the Talmud, Jewish mysticism, religious
thought, sociology, historical biography, and philosophy. These books
have been translated into Russian, English, French, Portuguese,
Swedish, Japanese, and Dutch. His commentary on Pirkei Avot, the
Chapters of the Fathers, was translated into Chinese and published in
1996. Rabbi Steinsaltz is best known for his interpretation,
commentaries, and translations of the Babylonian Talmud, a task which
he began some 25 years ago.

In Israel, Rabbi Steinsaltz is the Dean of the Mekor Chaim of
Jerusalem network of schools, which encompasses kindergarten through
high school. In 1988, Rabbi Steinsaltz received the Israel Prize, the
country's highest honor. Rabbi Steinsaltz is also very involved in
the future of the Jews in the former Soviet Union, traveling there
once a month and setting up various educational institution for Jews
still living there.

Newsweek magazine said of the Nassi-elect: "Jewish lore is filled
with tales of formidable rabbis. Probably none living today can
compare in genius and influence to Adin Steinsaltz, whose
extraordinary gifts as scholar, teacher, scientist, writer, mystic
and social critic have attracted disciples from all factions of
Israeli society."

Also present, though not seated around 71-seat semi-circular row of
chairs was famed archaeologist Dr. Vendyl Jones, who is working with
the Potential Sandhedrin to establish a system of courts for non-Jews adhering
to the Seven Laws of Noah, which are obligatory upon all of humanity.
One of those laws is to establish courts of justice. A high court has
been established by the Potential Sandhedrin for such purposes and a subsidiary
of that court will soon be established in the United States as well.

Among the many topics the Potential Sandhedrin intends to address are the
bridging of the divisions between various communities of Jewish
exiles who have returned to Israel; the establishment of authentic
techeilet, the biblical blue thread Jews are commanded to wear
amongst the fringes attached to four-cornered garments; the
definition of the measurement of the "ammah" (the biblical "cubit");
the determination of the exact point of human death, so as to deal
with the Jewish ethics of euthanasia; and the issue of agunot - women
whose husbands refuse to grant them a divorce.

Those currently sitting on the Potential Sandhedrin stress that each one of them
assumed their seats on condition that they be prepared to give them
up to anyone greater in wisdom who joins. Those interested in
becoming involved with the Potential Sandhedrin should contact the Potential Sandhedrin
secretariat at:
02-566-1962 (972-2-566-1962 from outside Israel).

RETURN TO Potential Sandhedrin CONTENTS PAGE

The following (previous issue) was addressed by the potential Sanhedrin. 
I believe it has since been removed. See quote and comments that follow:

http://beith-din.com/Marriage_and_sex.htm

"A person is not allowed to have sexual relations with his mother,
sisters, maternal aunts from his father or mother's side, his father's
wife even after the death of his father, daughter, granddaughter,
daughter-in-law, mother-in-law and her mother, his wife's daughters
and granddaughters." 

ONLY about half of these are prohibited!!!

According to this, both Avraham Avinu and `Amrama, the daddy of Aaron,
Moses, and Miryam, should have been beheaded, God forbid, for marrying
forbidden women (and of course their wives should have been beheaded,
too)!  ONLY one who has a poor grasp of even the Pentateuch (let along
the Oral Law) could write such garbage.

This is supposed to be the instructions of the secretary.  It
had been repeatedly pointed out to him (long long ago) that this is
in error, but it has not been corrected.  My assumption from this is
that Dov Stein, the Secretary of the "Sanhedrin" and Webmaster of that
site, and others including Schwartz, do not give a darn about the real
Noahide Laws of the Torah, but live in a world of imagination detached
from the Torah altogether.  LORD have mercy upon us!!!

One of the Noahides that I correspond with said to me frankly that he
thinks that the rabbis he has been in correspondence with are just
making it up as they go along (including Schwartz, who is thought to
be a World Authority in Noahide Law), and if so there is no reason to
prefer their improvisational imaginings to his own

RETURN TO Potential Sandhedrin CONTENTS PAGE

"CLEANING UP THE MOUNT BEFORE BUILDING THE TEMPLE"(2000)

Weekly Parsha Commentary by Binyamin Zev Kahane
Translated by Lenny Goldberg

The following are excerpts from a lecture given by Binyamin Zev Kahane, H'yd, 2 years ago, for Parashat Teruma:

The parasha tell us "and you shall make Me a sanctuary, and I shall dwell amongst them". Simply put, we should be talking about the building of the Beit HaMikdash during this class. Today, religious Jews have come up with all kinds of reasons (excuses?) why we shouldn't build the Temple: It will come from the heavens, or the Messiah will build it, we are not yet worthy, there are no Cohenim, etc....

Each camp has its own special reason. Despite this problem, I will not refute these arguments in this shiur, because as it says on the schedule, the topic of this class is: "Cleaning up the Mount before Building the Temple". Because I believe that with all the importance there is in building the Temple and refuting the aforementioned claims, the most BASIC and real obstacle to building the Temple today is the existence of the Arab mosques and Waqk. That is what scares people away; that is what makes the concept of building the Temple sound like some far-fetched pipe-dream. Sure, the Temple seems like a distant fantasy because its been absent for 2,000 years and the offering of sacrifices is so removed from us. But what really makes it difficult to take the building of the Temple seriously is the fact that we know how problematic that place is. The place where the Temple is supposed to stand is the most problematic place in the entire world. This is the problem we run away from.

There is a concept in Judaism, "Sur Me Ra, Ase Tov" (Remove evil, do good). Last week, for Parashat Mishpatim, we discussed the strict prohibition of appearing before courts that carry out gentile law, and we discussed how the Supreme Court spearheads the Hellenist front. People say that the solution is a Sanhedrin. But that is not a real solution. The real solution is to first undercut the Israeli Supreme Court. After all, what are we going to do - serve a petition to the Supreme Court to establish a Sanhedrin? Of course the problem is a powerful and aggressive Israeli Supreme Court and judiciary system, which many people, including religious Jews find great favor with, unfortunately. And so, saying, "we must establish a Sanhedrin" is no answer. The REAL obstacle to the Sanhedrin and any Jewish content in our country is this all-powerful institution called the Supreme Court of Israel. You won't convince anyone by saying, "establish a Sanhedrin". It will always remain in the realm of abstract, far off - because there already exists another well-oiled judiciary mechanism, which is the utter antithesis to a Sanhedrin.

All the moreso when discussing the Temple. We say, "we must build the Temple". But it is a fantasy when you have the very antithesis to it standing in its place. The problem is that people have difficulty dealing with the "negative" aspects. They like to do the "positive" aspects, as we have mentioned before regarding the building of settlements. People want to build settlements, but don't want to deal with the "negative" aspect of the mitzvah of settling the land, which is the expulsion of the goyim. In similar fashion, people like to establish Temple Institutes and to show the beauty of the Temple vessels, and to give the feeling of the splendor and importance of the Temple. Of course this should be done - but if ONLY this is done, there is no way we will make it a reality. First, you must take care of the problem. That's "Sur Me Ra, Ase Tove". It is like doing surgery - you have to cut. There is blood and it is messy - so people choose to skirt the issue.But we must do it - we have no choice.

We must deal with the desecration that takes place up there. After the "shiur" you will see a shocking video from "Chai ViKayam" which shows the shocking reality of the Temple Mount situation. It is a must see. Every rabbi should see it. Unfortunately most rabbis will say that videos and TV's are "impure". The problem is that we worry about the small "impurities", and forget about the big "impurities" (like on the Temple Mount)