Strengthen the grip on King David's Tomb: Peter Chamor and new Rabbi

Chai Vekayam: hundreds attended tonight (Saturday) the rare "Peter Chamor" ceremony at the Tomb of King David on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, and the appointment of a Rabbi for the place.

The Cohen who redeemed the donkey was Rabbi Simcha Hacohen Kook, Rabbi of Rehovot and the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem.

During the event, Rabbi Aharon Yitzchak Stern, Rabbi of "Ziv Yehuda" in Bnei Brak, was appointed rabbi of the site. The one to read his letter of appointment was Rabbi Shalom Arush, Rabbi of Chut Shel Chessed community.

The appointment is not official and is not an appointment of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel but set off with Harav Cook's blessing, and it took place during the performance of the rare Mitzvah. Rabbi Yosef Berger, who invests much for the tomb, was present as well.

As on every week, including this Saturday night, a traditional Melave Malka took place, while an orchestra accompanied the event, but this time the singer Shlomo Cohen came to entertain with his singing. For several years, the Diaspora Yeshiva organizes a Melave Malka meal open to the public and accompanied by musicians to raise awareness and strengthen the Jewish presence there.

Meanwhile, people of the tomb plan to go out on an extensive campaign in the haredi and general media to encourage the public about the danger of the Christians' attempts to take over parts of the structure of the tomb, which according to Catholic tradition is related to the history of Christianity.

Rabbi Yosef Berger, among the rabbis and activists, said tonight to Behadrey Haredim, "The Tomb of David, located on Mount Zion, is the most important in terms of the struggle against the forces of tumah. The verse "and saviors from Mount Zion will come to judge the mountain of Esav", shows that the war with Esav begins from Mount Zion - which, according to sources, is Christianity.

"The struggle will focus on the sacred Mount. We must not give up. Israeli governments have an interest not to going head to head with Christianity in order not to lose the support and sympathy from other countries. We must fight for this holy place."

A year ago, it was published that in talks with the Vatican, it was decided to transfer part of the tomb of David to its possession. In addition, the Israel Police prepared to evacuate the synagogue worshipers and those who learn there in order to enable the Greek Orthodox Church to hold the ceremony of Shavuot (Pentecost) at the place.

Following this there was an outbreak of protest, a mass Jewish prayer was held and the Christian ritual was canceled, but the police has banned Jewish prayer at the site ever since.

In June 2015, it was reported that Jews were evacuated from the site by police force, toward a mass of the Greek Orthodox Church as part of Pentecost holiday, but it was held in the presence of a limited audience, without lighting incense and no cross. Nevertheless, talks are still underway to transfer part of the building into the hands of the Vatican.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!