Messiah in the air: Ben-Gvir authorizes Jewish singing, dancing on Temple Mount

For the first time in years, Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount were permitted to sing and dance openly across the entire compound, marking a historic shift in enforcement policy under Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The move reverses a long-standing status quo, under which Jewish worshippers were regularly detained or removed for quietly praying or even mouthing words. Many were later banned from the site for weeks or months. But under new instructions from Ben-Gvir, the Israel Police have been directed to allow open Jewish prayer and singing throughout the holy site. Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai has reportedly communicated the directive to officers on the ground.

The shift follows a meeting held three weeks ago in Ben-Gvir’s office with leaders of Temple Mount advocacy groups. During the meeting, several proposals were raised to ease restrictions and enhance the Jewish presence at the site. One activist praised the minister’s approach, saying, “You’ve worked magic since you got here.” Another described the change as “a historic shift we never thought we’d see.”

A central request at that meeting was the freedom to sing aloud, not just in limited areas but across the full extent of the Mount. Ben-Gvir responded directly: “My policy is that it should be permitted to sing across the entire Temple Mount.”

That policy was put into practice this morning, as groups of Jewish visitors were seen celebrating, singing, and dancing freely throughout the site, something unseen in years.