Menorah on the Temple Mount?

A group of Jewish activists attempted to reenact the lighting of the menorah on the Temple Mount earlier this week during Hanukkah as in the days of the Maccabees.  However, they were not successful.  The group has tried to place the menorah on the mount for the last several years.  This year's attempt is the closest they got, but they were stopped just outside the Tribes Gate on the northeast corner of the mount.  

In the 2nd century BCE, Antiochus Epiphanies desecrated the Second Jewish Temple and set up a sacrifice to Zeus on the altar of burnt offering.  This gave rise to the Maccabean Revolt, which fought back and captured Jerusalem and the Temple.  After their enemies were crushed, the Maccabees cleansed the temple and rededicated it.  They built a new altar of burnt offering, rebuilt the sanctuary and interior of the temple, and made new holy vessels—bringing in the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table for the bread of presence.  They offered incense on the altar, lighted the lamps on the lampstand, placed the bread of the presence on the table, and hung up the curtains (1 Macc 4:36-51).  This was followed by a joyful celebration that lasted eight days and marked the beginning of Hanukkah, which was to be celebrated every year beginning on the twenty-fifth day of Chislev (vv 56-59).

One can only imagine, what might have happened if the group was successful this week.  Would there have been rejoicing, rejection, or rebellion?

Return to Temple Mount activists at the gate to Temple Mount (Jewish Press)