On the first morning of Ramadan, which also marked the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar, Jewish father Yishai Fleisher walked down from the Temple Mount with his young son after a time of prayer.
Moments later, he was stopped by a French journalist.
What followed was not a simple interview. It was a tense back-and-forth that highlighted a growing global discomfort with a simple reality: Jews are returning in record numbers to pray on their holiest site.
Questioning Jewish Prayer on Judaism’s Holiest Site
The French reporter immediately pressed Fleisher on why he chose to ascend the Temple Mount during Ramadan, as if Jewish worship needed to take a back seat to Muslim observance.
The implication was clear. Jewish prayer was being treated as provocative.
Fleisher calmly explained that he had come to pray at the start of the month of Adar, a joyful time on the Jewish calendar. He pointed out that Israeli police had permitted prayer and singing that morning. He emphasized that Jerusalem is under Israeli sovereignty and that Israeli law governs the Temple Mount.
Still, the reporter pushed back. He suggested that Jewish prayer might be restricted. He referenced Jordanian religious authorities as though they controlled the site. He raised concerns about possible unrest.
At every turn, Fleisher pushed back just as firmly. He stated that Israeli police had given clear instructions allowing prayer. He rejected the idea that Jewish worship should be limited because of Ramadan. And he dismissed the narrative that the day was on the brink of crisis.
The exchange revealed something deeper than a disagreement over policy. It exposed a mindset that questions whether Jews truly have the right to pray at the very place where their temples once stood.
Sovereignty Under Scrutiny
The Temple Mount is not a minor religious site. It is the spiritual heart of Judaism. It is where the First and Second Temples stood. For centuries, Jews around the world prayed facing that mountain.
Yet in this exchange, the journalist treated Jewish worship as something that required justification.
Fleisher reminded him that Israel has exercised sovereignty over Jerusalem since 1967. Israeli police, not foreign authorities, enforce the law on the Mount. That morning, Jewish worshippers followed those instructions.
Still, the line of questioning carried an unmistakable tone. The Jewish presence was framed as disruptive rather than restorative.
Condemning Provocation While Defending Israel
The journalist also raised an incident in which a religious nationalist reportedly burned a Quran nearby. Fleisher did not defend that act. He made clear that such personal provocations are wrong and unnecessary.
At the same time, he argued that Israel as a state must confront extremist ideologies that call for its destruction. He drew a sharp line between individual stunts and national security.
What stood out was the imbalance. The reporter seemed far more concerned about Jewish actions than about the broader threats Israel faces daily.
A Record Year on the Temple Mount
Encounters like this are unlikely to fade away.
In 2025, Jewish ascent to the Temple Mount reached record levels. According to Israel365 News, 76,448 Jews ascended the Temple Mount last year. What was once a small movement has become a growing expression of faith and national identity.
More Jews are choosing to walk where their ancestors walked. More are choosing to pray where the temples once stood.
As that movement grows, so does international attention. And with it comes increased criticism.
For decades, Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount was limited or discouraged. Now that reality is shifting. The world is watching and not everyone is pleased.
The Bible Warned This Would Happen
The Scriptures have long warned that Jerusalem would become a flashpoint for the nations.
The prophet Zechariah described Jerusalem as a heavy stone for all peoples. The psalms speak of nations raging against God’s purposes. Throughout history, the restoration of Israel has been met with resistance.
As Jewish worship increases on the Temple Mount, it should not surprise believers that global pushback increases as well.
What happened between Yishai Fleisher and the French journalist was not just a media moment. It was a snapshot of a larger struggle. A struggle over history. Over sovereignty. Over who has the right to stand on that mountain and pray.
The numbers tell the story. Tens of thousands of Jews are ascending. The desire is growing, not shrinking.
And as it grows, so will the opposition.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
