Muslim - Jewish struggle over the compound of Shimon HaTzaddik
Yonatan Yoseph, grandson of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, leads, in recent years, the struggle for the Jewish character of the Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood, bringing thousands of visitors * On Friday leftists and Arabs interfere with the Jewish prayers using drums. The voice of the prayers service drowns them out.
In the year 5636, Rabbi Avraham Ashkenazi, ob"m, the Chief Sefardic Rabbi, and Rabbi Meir Auerbach, ob"m, head of the Ashkenazi community, acquired the compound of the Tomb of Shimon HaTzaddik. The Shimon HaTzadik neighborhood was then established, around the tomb of the High Priest and head of the Sanhedrin, who taught us the following adage: "On three things the world stands: on Torah and Avodah and gemilus chasadim." On that spot, four synagogues were built, and were populated by financially disadvantaged Jews, free of charge.
In 5708, the neighborhood was evacuated by the British, fearing that the Arabs would slaughter the neighborhood residents. A month later the Arabs massacred the members of the supply convoy to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus. 78 Jews, HY"D, were burned to death and massacred brutally but the British army stood aside and did not lift a finger to stop the massacre.
In 5727, with the reoccupation of the place, the Jews discovered that the tomb cave had been desecrated by Muslims who used it as a pen for their goats, and the Arabs had invaded Jewish homes in the area. The tomb was restored by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and once again was filled with visitors coming to pray. The houses were redeemed in the merit of the synagogue, and remained a mute testimony to the Jewish settlement that had been there.
Ten years ago an Arab living next door to the synagogue ago tried to usurp part of it in order to gain another room for his house. Jewish hikers passing by reported this invasion to Rabbi Benny Elon, who rushed to the scene with some 50 right-wing activists. The Arab neighbors welcomed them with a shower of stones, and Faisal Husseini arrived pronto accompanied by foreign media.
At the same time, Yonatan relates, my father Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Shlita, had finished his morning prayer (k′vatikin) at the kever of Shimon HaTzaddik. When he saw the commotion and understood what was being plotted, he went up, pointing up to the Star of David carved above the doorway, the inscriptions on the synagogue wall and the niche for the mezuzah, that remained intact. "Do you tend to carve a Star of David on your homes?" he asked Faisal Husseini, who was left stunned and dumbfounded.
My father told reporters that his father, Maran Rishon Lezion Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Shlita, was the reader of the Torah there, and that he personally knew many Jews who lived there. After the synagogue, other houses in the neighborhood were redeemed, the last- about seven months ago. Since then, anarchists and other Israel haters riot there daily. The climax is on Friday, when Jewish anarchists and extreme left activists come and disturb the peace.
The goal of the Arabs is to discourage Jews from living and visiting there. Even at the tomb compound stones were thrown many times - and we, the settlers′ association, feared that Jews would stay away. But happily, the number of worshipers instead increased - which caused the Egged bus company to reinforce the bus transportation and to establish a bus stop near the compound.
Every Friday night, opposite the rioting anarchists, Shabbos prayers are held, with hundreds of Jews flocking there. Local resident Yochanan Rosenzweig, relates: "The scene is amazing - hundreds of Jews from all circles are receiving the Sabbath with joy and singing, while the anarchists are making noise with drums, apparently to disrupt the prayer. The sounds of the prayers resonate throughout the neighborhood, and warm the hearts of the settlers".
All those to whom the integrity of Yerushalayim is important, are invited to come and take part in the tefillos at Kever Shimon HaTzaddik. Come and benefit from the blessings, identify with the settlers, and prove to the entire world that Yerushalyim is Jewish and will remain Jewish forever. Free guided tours are available. For registration, please call 050-5524622 and leave a message.
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