More than 700 Jews from all over the country arrived yesterday for the traditional circuit around the Temple Mount's gates (Sivuv She'arim) held every Rosh Hodesh (new Hebrew month), this time in honor of Rosh Hodesh Tevet which falls in the middle of Hanukkah.
Participants sang and danced while walking round the gates of the Temple Mount, and held a moving seventh candle lighting in front of Sha'ar Hashvatim (Gate of the Tribes), through which the Paratroopers entered and liberated the Temple Mount in the Six-Day War.
During the tour, the participants stopped at each of the Temple Mount gates to pray and recite Psalms.
Rabbi Yosi Palai of the El Har Hamor organization which organizes the Sivuv She'arim, says that the difference this time was in the large number of families who participated: "In most events during the year there are many educational institution groups.There are no groups on Hanukkah because of the vacation, but there are many families who chose to mark Hanukkah with a family trip around the gates.
"Lighting the Hanukkah candles at the gates of the Temple Mount is an exciting event," the rabbi says."We lit the Menorah and we prayed the evening service, and the feeling was that the Menorahs of each and every member of the Jewish People connected with the Menorah of the Temple."
The Siviv She'arim circuit round the gates has taken place for over 16 years on every Rosh Hodesh and participants come from many sectors of Israel's population. The El Har Hamor Association hopes to strengthen the connection between the Jewish people and the site of the Temple, in anticipation of its reconstruction.