# Israeli "Sanhedrin" Plans Passover Sacrifice **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 22, 2007, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004 "2007-03-22T12:21:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/1 "2007-03-22T12:21:57Z")
> **[home](https://www.beliefnet.com/)** > > Beliefnet inspires your every day with daily Christian articles and features designed to uplift your soul and encourage you along your faith journey. I mentioned this Sandhedrin when it was constituted a couple of years ago. It was dismissed as inconsequential but now that I see that it’s present president is the esteemed Rabbi Adin Steinzaltz, I can’t quite dismiss it that easily. Anyway, they have gotten a flock of 12 lambs and are planning, if at all possible, to sacrifice them on the Temple Mount as Passover. Is this going to go off? If it does, what will be the repercussions? My guess is that the Israeli government will strongly discourage it & that it will prevail with the Sanhedrin leaders, but if they do go through with it, who knows what it will trigger? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/2 "2007-03-22T12:37:37Z")
No way the government will allow it. I doubt they’ll even manage to get the lambs into the Old City. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/3 "2007-03-22T12:39:55Z")
For one (not necessarily very significant)thing, I think even the suggestion that this might happen will whip up some interest in some of the Christian ‘end times’ groups - I seem to recall that restoration of the temple sacrifice is an indicator, for some, that the Antichrist is on the rise, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/4 "2007-03-22T12:46:13Z")
Indeed, [read the comments](http://rapturealert.blogspot.com/2007/02/sanhedrin-seeking-to-revive-ancient.html) on this article in particular. WOOOP! ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/5 "2007-03-22T14:08:45Z")
I’m kind of curious how they plan to do this without the Altar. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/6 "2007-03-22T14:56:36Z")
Does it have to be “The Altar” or an altar? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/7 "2007-03-22T14:59:30Z")
[QUOTE=Grey] Does it have to be “The Altar” or an altar? [/QUOTE] THE altar…or at least, it has to be precisely on the spot of the original altar. Only nobody knows exactly where that was, so… ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/8 "2007-03-22T15:29:49Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] > **[Beliefnet](https://www.beliefnet.com/)** > > Beliefnet inspires your every day with daily Christian articles and features designed to uplift your soul and encourage you along your faith journey. If it does, what will be the repercussions? [/QUOTE] What kind of reprecussions? Why should anyone care about this? Okay, I can see the Rapture folk getting excited, as it plays into their fantasies … but why does anyone else care about how a few people (who represent no one in particular and who squabble among themselves as to what they represent) choose to interpret their faith? Honestly I do not understand. Fear about Moslem upset over a putatively Jewish religious ritual on the Mount? The disconnect between the ultra-orthodox and the majority secular Jews in Israel is a major issue, but this? Israel is not a theocracy and the fantasies of a minority of a few ultra-Orthodox do not change that fact. There is and will be no Sanhedrin and them calling themselves that no more makes it so than my calling myself Abe Lincoln makes me a dead former President. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/9 "2007-03-22T15:35:49Z")
Every few years, we get some radicals who think they can do something like this without Elijah and the Messiah. There are numerous problems with this attempt, both in halacha and realpolitik, which other posters have already mentioned. I can’t see any good coming out of this. At best, it will be nipped in the bud by the Israeli government and will be nothing but next week’s birdcage-liner. At worst, they piss off the Arabs for a show of mock-piety that more likey than not is against Halacha anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/10 "2007-03-22T16:02:47Z")
Thing is, how in the world can these people carry out the sacrifice properly according to the Law unless one of them is the Messiah? ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/11 "2007-03-22T16:53:48Z")
Eh? I thought that the sacrifice wasn’t supposed to be done while ritually unclean, and that _everybody_ is ritually unclean since there’s no ashes of a red heifer to purify themselves with? Or is that only for rituals _in_ the Temple? ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/12 "2007-03-22T17:23:51Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] Eh? I thought that the sacrifice wasn’t supposed to be done while ritually unclean, and that _everybody_ is ritually unclean since there’s no ashes of a red heifer to purify themselves with? Or is that only for rituals _in_ the Temple? [/QUOTE] Oddly enough, being ritually unclean is not a problem for the Passover sacrifice if everyone is unclean. It’s an odd rule, but there are certain sacrifices (the Passover among them) that can be offered in a state of _tumah_ if the entire congregation is in a similar state. The problem of not having the Altar is a different problem. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/13 "2007-03-22T19:04:19Z")
[QUOTE=(from the article)] “We want all the world,” Stein said, “to walk with God.” [/QUOTE] Well, I want the world to walk with dinosaurs. But does anybody listen to me? Noooooooooooooo. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/14 "2007-03-22T19:19:40Z")
So, if they do this improperly, does that mean we can have barbecued lamb instead? Mmm…barbecued lamb. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/15 "2007-03-22T21:12:30Z")
If I recall my _Leviticus_, G\*d just enjoys the aroma, ceremony, and worthiness of all involved. There should be plenty of leftovers from 12 lambs. What I want to know is this: garlic or mint jelly? Because I’d have a problem with a Supreme Being who likes mint jelly with his lamb. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/16 "2007-03-22T21:14:41Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] If I recall my _Leviticus_, G\*d just enjoys the aroma, ceremony, and worthiness of all involved. There should be plenty of leftovers from 12 lambs. What I want to know is this: garlic or mint jelly? Because I’d have a problem with a Supreme Being who likes mint jelly with his lamb. [/QUOTE] Me too. What you put on lamb is [mint **sauce!**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mint_sauce) Mint jelly is an Abomination! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/17 "2007-03-22T21:16:37Z")
Heretic! ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/18 "2007-03-22T21:48:57Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Mint jelly is an Abomination! [/QUOTE] You’ll have to be more specific. Is that a “gay sex and other Moloch worship stuff” Abomination, or more of an “eat shellfish or wear cotton-poly blend clothing” Abomination? I never could keep track of all those Levitical abominations… Thanks for the clarification, **zev\_steinhardt**. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/19 "2007-03-22T21:51:24Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] So, if they do this improperly, does that mean we can have barbecued lamb instead? Mmm…barbecued lamb. [/QUOTE] On the contrary, the Passover sacrifice is meant to be eaten, not burnt on the Altar. As such, it can only be eaten if _correctly_ done. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004/20 "2007-03-22T22:00:14Z")
[QUOTE=zev\_steinhardt] On the contrary, the Passover sacrifice is meant to be eaten, not burnt on the Altar. As such, it can only be eaten if _correctly_ done. Zev Steinhardt [/QUOTE] A sacrifice that **is** meant to be entirely burnt up is called a [“holocaust.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust_%28sacrifice%29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-sanhedrin-plans-passover-sacrifice/397004.md?page=2)