An Exercise
in Empathy Regarding Al Haram Ash Sharif / the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
Considering the pain many
of the inhabitants of today’s Holy Land are experiencing I would like to present the following questions to
representatives of the three Abrahamic faiths as a form of exercise in empathy. An
exercise that demands, however, that, before we even approach it, we realize
that we are getting back to the very basics of our existence as human beings,
God's children, and so divest ourselves of all pride and approach these issues
humbly and even in a spirit of penitence. In this light I would even like to
ask the highly respected “Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land” to
recommend this exercise for the members of their communities.
In the year 2007 a group
of Muslim scholars sent an open letter to the Pope and to leaders of other
Christian Churches entitled “A Common Word between us and you”. In this letter they
proposed to make
“love”, which is in both religions is regarded as the basis of all
virtues, also the
basis for inter-religious dialogue – and for all attempts to resolve
inter-religious conflicts on that basis.
Al Haram ash-Sharif / the Temple Mount has become
an object of
conflict. Could it, in this view, be turned into the token for
peace?
What would you say: do Jews have a
right to a New Temple?
What might be the right place to build it?
Would you agree that the
Muslim sanctuaries are endangered by
the Jewish claim to the Temple Mount? What would you suggest, to prevent such a
danger?
Since it seems
impossible to answer these questions without hurting either Jews or Muslims, I
suggest the
following empathic procedure – always bearing in mind that healing is often preceded and accompanied by
pain.
Would you agree that empathy is the key element of the solution?
God asked Abraham to sacrifice what was dearest
to him, his son.
If God were to
ask Jews to sacrifice what is
dearest to them, would they be
willing to relinquish their claim to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem? Could they
consider leaving the entire site to the Muslims and finding some other appropriate
place for building their Temple?
If God were to ask Muslims to sacrifice what is
dearest to them, would they be willing to relinquish their claim to al Haram
ash Sharif in Jerusalem? Could they consider leaving the site to the Jews – for
example, by moving the Dome of the Rock to some other location (while Al Aqsa
could remain where it is)?
Bearing in mind Sura 5,48, in which competition in virtue is demanded, what
do you think the proper reaction of the Muslims should be, if the Jews were in
fact to surrender their claim to the Temple Mount? What would Muslims be ready
to sacrifice?
Once we have accepted,
that God could
ask Jews and Muslims alike to surrender their claim to al Haram ash
Sharif / The Temple Mount in Jerusalem, both parties could get together on equal
terms and discuss their willingness to compromise. What, in your view, might such
a compromise look like?
How would, in your view, an orthodox Rabbi / a
representative of the Islamic Waqf of today see as
such a compromise?
What would you tell them?
Gottfried Hutter, Chairman of “The Temple Project Association”. More
information: www.Temple-Project.de;
contact: gottfried.hutter@gmx.de
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