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Har HaBayit and the Geulah Process

By Hershel Thomas

The redemption (Geulah) of Am Yisrael is not only a hope for the future—it is unfolding now. Har HaBayit, the holiest place in the world, is at the heart of this process. This post explores how the physical return to the Temple Mount—through halachically permitted ascension, national awareness, and spiritual readiness—is a vital stage in the unfolding of redemption. Drawing from Tanach, Chazal, and modern poskim, we show how Har HaBayit is not only symbolic but also a concrete catalyst for the Geulah and the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash.

#Temple Mount#Jerusalem#Prayer#Torah#Jewish History#Religious Practice#Spirituality#Community
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Introduction: The Temple Mount and Redemption

Har HaBayit is not just a relic of ancient glory—it is the spiritual epicenter of the Jewish people, and its revival is inseparable from the unfolding redemption (Geulah). The Rambam, the prophets, and countless sages describe the centrality of the Temple Mount in the ultimate restoration of Am Yisrael and the Shechinah's return to Zion. But how does it fit into our time? And what role do we play?

1. Scriptural Foundations of Redemption and Har HaBayit

The prophets describe the redemption not only as a time of peace and return, but as a time when the Divine Presence will dwell again in the Beit HaMikdash:

"וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל"
"And I will dwell among the Children of Israel" (Shemot 25:8)

And in the words of Yeshayahu:

"וְהָיָה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים... וְנָהֲרוּ אֵלָיו כָּל-הַגּוֹיִם"
"And it shall be in the end of days... and all the nations shall stream to it" (Yeshayahu 2:2)

These verses link redemption with the restoration of Har HaBayit as a spiritual lighthouse for all humanity.

2. The Rambam: A Halachic Roadmap to Redemption

In the Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Melachim 11–12), the Rambam outlines the steps of the redemption, beginning with a king who restores the kingdom of David—and he explicitly includes the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash as a necessary step.

But how is this achieved? Chazal explain that the Geulah can be gradual, unfolding in stages (Ramban on Vayikra 26:16; Megillah 17b). The physical return precedes the spiritual restoration. Our active participation is not a delay of redemption—it is its ignition.

3. Har HaBayit Today: Opportunity or Obligation?

In recent years, more Jews have returned to Har HaBayit in halachically permitted ways—immersing in a mikveh, ascending only in allowed areas, and removing shoes as per the Mishnah (Berachot 9:5). Many contemporary Gedolei Yisrael, including Rav Dov Lior, Rav Eliezer Melamed, and Rav Israel Ariel, affirm that this return is not just allowed—it is part of the redemptive process.

"העלייה להר הבית – ראשית צמיחת גאולתנו"
"The ascension to Har HaBayit is the first blossoming of our redemption."
— Rav Israel Ariel

4. A Channel for the Shechinah

The Zohar and Kabbalistic sources describe Har HaBayit as a tzinor—a spiritual conduit through which Divine influence flows into the world. When Jews reclaim that space with awe and purity, we re-open that channel.

The Vilna Gaon taught that every small act taken toward redemption hastens it. If so, visiting Har HaBayit with trembling hearts and pure hands is not symbolic—it is generative.

5. The Role of the Individual

While the redemption is a national process, every individual can take part:

  • Learning about the Temple’s laws and history

  • Spreading awareness of Har HaBayit’s importance

  • Ascending with halachic guidance and fear of Heaven

  • Davening for the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash

  • Living a life of kedusha that reflects the sanctity of the Temple

These actions transform Har HaBayit from a memory into a mission.

Conclusion: A Living Mountain, A Living Hope

The Geulah is not a dream of the distant future—it is happening in our time. The Jewish return to Eretz Yisrael, to Yerushalayim, and to Har HaBayit are not coincidences. They are signs. As more of us answer the call, we restore the dignity of the Shechinah and prepare the foundation for the Third Temple.

"כִּי בָחַר ה׳ בְּצִיּוֹן, אִוָּהּ לְמוֹשָׁב לוֹ"
"For Hashem has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling place." (Tehillim 132:13)

Let us be part of that choice. Let us return—responsibly, halachically, and wholeheartedly—to Har HaBayit.

Let Us Rise

The redemption will not fall from the sky. It grows from our hearts, our deeds, and our courage. Har HaBayit is not just the final step in Geulah—it is the very place where redemption was always meant to begin.