puty Education Minister Tzvi Hendel and MK Uri Ariel issued a call today to the hundreds of religious-Zionist schools and yeshivot to participate in a unique commemoration of the upcoming fast day of Asarah B'Tevet. The two leaders of the Tekumah faction within the National Union invited the schools and their students to take part in the festive walk around the Temple Mount gates. "This is an event in which thousands of all ages take part," the two MKs said, "with singing, dancing, musical instruments, reading aloud of Psalms, amidst a general atmosphere of excitement, uplifting and inspiration."
The event will be held in coordination with the security forces. In their letter to school principals, Ariel and Hendel write, "It appears that the spiritual frailties we see sprouting up around us regarding the nation's bonds with its land, and in the lack of comprehension regarding what this nation is doing here at all, stem from - among other reasons - forgetting the purpose and the peak of our longings and prayers: the Temple Mount, the center of our Divine inspiration. Participation in the walk around the Temple Mount gates is a form of re-setting our sights on the goal."
The letter was sent to yeshiva high schools, hesder yeshivot, pre-military academies, ulpanot (girls' high schools), teachers' colleges, and to community rabbis.
The fast of Asarah B'Tevet commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem during the days of the First Temple, culminating with its destruction and the 70-year exile of the Jewish People from its land.
The event will be held in coordination with the security forces. In their letter to school principals, Ariel and Hendel write, "It appears that the spiritual frailties we see sprouting up around us regarding the nation's bonds with its land, and in the lack of comprehension regarding what this nation is doing here at all, stem from - among other reasons - forgetting the purpose and the peak of our longings and prayers: the Temple Mount, the center of our Divine inspiration. Participation in the walk around the Temple Mount gates is a form of re-setting our sights on the goal."
The letter was sent to yeshiva high schools, hesder yeshivot, pre-military academies, ulpanot (girls' high schools), teachers' colleges, and to community rabbis.
The fast of Asarah B'Tevet commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem during the days of the First Temple, culminating with its destruction and the 70-year exile of the Jewish People from its land.