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 Recently, the
Jewish people have begun to reassert their rights to the Temple Mount.
They have been aided by technical progress and archaeological
discoveries in solving the once insurmountable problem of determining
the areas that can be visited by Jews even in a state of impurity, and
which areas remained off limits. Modern technology such as laser
cutting tools can solve the problem of constructing an altar without
metallic tools.
However, the most important development
has not been technological, but spiritual. The emergence of a Jewish
religious leadership in the form of a renascent Sanhedrin Initiative
has provided the breakthrough. A group of rabbinic leaders has summoned
the courage to revive Jewish legal thought and authority in the
framework of a renewed Jewish sovereignty. The new Sanhedrin Initiative
is in the forefront of the drive to renew the Korban Pesach. It assumes
responsibility for ensuring that the commandments are performed in
conformity with Jewish religious law, and will also coordinate the
practical details with the appropriate Israeli governmental
authorities.
This year in Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin
Initiative is calling upon the Jewish people in Israel and throughout
the world to participate in the Korban Pesach. The Sanhedrin Initiative
will choose sheep to be offered in the Korban Pesach, and all
preparations will be made in the expectation that we can renew this
ancient, traditional offering. In the event that political or other
obstacles intervene, the Sanhedrin Initiative has taken halakhic
precautions to ensure that the monies for purchasing the sheep can
still be used for charitable donations.
Any person wishing to participate in the
Korban Pesach can enroll himself and members of his family for the
price of seven shekels per person --the estimated cost of a Kezayit of
meat, the minimum portion necessary for fulfilling the commandment. The
process will be supervised by licensed accountants, whether the monies
will be used for the original purpose or will be donated to charity.
We realize that this approach is as
controversial as it is courageous; passivity always appears the safer
course, even if appearances are deceiving. The controversy is part of a
fundamental debate whether the Jewish people must passively await their
redemption which will be a one-shot deal or they are enjoined to make
preparations and sacrifices in both senses of the word to prepare the
stage for their redemption. If you subscribe to the second approach,
then one can hardly find a cause more worthy than restoring the Korban
Pesach to its pride of place as a symbol of Jewish unity.
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