The Temple Mount Institute has filed suit in its fight for the right to sacrifice a sheep on the Temple Mount prior to Passover, as commanded in the Torah. "The command to perform a Paschal [Passover] sacrifice is a positive commandment; the punishment for failing to perform it is 'karet' [lit. -- 'cut off', meaning that a person is cut off from the Nation of Israel], and it can be performed only on the day before Passover and only on the Temple Mount," the organization explained in a petition to the Supreme Court. Fighting the group's request are the Israel Police, who argue that the sacrifice would lead to Muslim riots and thus threaten public safety."
"Jews have the right to offer animal sacrifices on the Temple Mount under Israeli law, the organization claimed. Israelis are guaranteed the right to freedom of worship, and Israel prides itself in allowing members of all faiths to access their holy sites. In previous years, the court has ruled that the right to freedom of worship is outweighed by the consideration of public safety, and has forbidden the Paschal sacrifice. The Temple Mount Institute also took the opportunity to take police to task for barring Jews and Christians from the Temple Mount following Muslim riots. "The Israel Police is giving rioters a 'prize' and encouraging them to hold violent riots and disturb the peace, on the one hand, and is discriminating against Jews and members of other faiths and trampling their human rights - the right to freedom of movement and freedom of worship - on the other," the organization accused. The Institute asked the court to order police to explain why Jews are barred from the mount when Muslims riot."
The sacrifice is called Korban Pesach and it is explained here: "What is Korban Pesach?"
Yesterday The Temple Mount organizations petitioning for the right to sacrifice on Passover at the Temple Mount received word that their request was passed on to the Government. This represents the furthest progress they have ever made in petitioning for the right to make a Temple Mount offering. See article below from Temple Mount Faithful website:
"Excitement growing for Passover Offering 2010"
"According to reports from activists in the field unprecedented number of people are signing up to take part in the Passover Offering. According to biblical law the Paschal Lamb must be eaten on Passover night in a group of no less than 10, known as a "Chabura". To great surprise many individuals even in the Haredi (ultra orthodox) sector are also signing up and getting their lambs ready to slaughter for this special and important Offering to Almighty One. The Supreme Court has required the Government of Israel to respond to a petition presented by the Temple Mount Movements by Sunday. According to a representative of the Temple Mount Movements this morning, the trial over the Passover Offering may take place as soon as Monday! We will keep you updated with any new developments regarding the Passover Offering 2010."
The folks at the Rosh Pina Project blog, a Messianic Jewish blog, state:
"There is lots of messianic fervour currently in Israel surrounding the year 5770, as it corresponds numerically with 770 Eastern Parkway - the New York address of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, whom many Chabadniks believe is the Moshiach, and believe he will arrive before the year is out. But it is not just Chabad hasidim who believe that Moshiach and Geula will come before the end of 5770. The reality is these views are prevalent across the spectrum of haredi Judaism. Orthodox Jewish news site Matzav reports that many leading Litvak poskim are supporting a project which teaches that Moshiach and Geula are coming at Pesach this year."
The folks at matzov.com, a page devoted to "The Online Voice of Torah Jewry " say, "A new effort to prepare "Yidden" for the coming of "Moshiach" in time for "Pesach" 5770 has received the approval from "gedolim". The project is aimed at having "Yidden" organized in "chaburos", with animals inspected and ready to be used for the "korban Pesach" upon "Moshiach"'s arrival prior to the "Chag Hamatzos" this year."
Messianic fervour...an interesting phrase. We do know that immediately after the Gog-Magog war in which God shows Himself to His people and demonstrates His power in winning that war for them, He will then call ALL the Jews to the land, "not leaving any behind." When they all come back He "pours out His spirit on the House of Israel." (Ezekiel 39:28-29) We can now see the start of this yearning for their LORD. The Temple Mount and the sacrifices petition could be representative of a drumbeat in more and more Jews' hearts as they begin to give voice the call that the Spirit is rising in them.