A Jewish Couple Moves Into Beit Rand – The Closest Building To The Temple Mount

After a huge Old City court victory a young Jewish couple moved into Beit Rand Thursday evening – one of the closest buildings once owned by Jews located extremely close to Har HaBayit – Temple Mount- directly opposite Makom HaMikdash, the place of the Temple.

1n 1901 – Menachem Mendel Rand – a well known and affluent Chassid of Sanz from Litobesk (Galicia), made Aliyah and as a Cohen-Priest, he wanted a property close to the Temple Mount, so that he can be ready and close to the temple Mount, when the Mashiach arrives.

He acquired a massive property of courtyards, a winery, and at least 45 rooms, totaling over 1000 sq mtrs). The property was and is located in the famous cotton market, which leads to the Temple Mount.

Many of you have toured with us, Ateret Cohanim, and walked down the cotton market and stood on the stairs opposite the place of Beit HaMikdash. Today the Golden Dome of the Rock occupies that very spot.

Sadly – and as many such cases, Jews were driven from the Old City with the violent Arab pogroms of the 1920s and 1930s.

Arabs squatted in the premises and many have been in the Rand Complex to this very day.

Unfortunately – over the last 30-35 plus years, the trustees of the official Rand Sanctified Trust have not been interested or able to deal with the Arab tenants that are squatting in this massive important complex.

It should be noted that there are a few rooms in the Rand Complex used by the Mechina (Preparatory Academy) of Ateret Yerushalayim, Baruch Hashem.

Recently, things seem to be changing and moves are being made through the proper legal channels to reclaim the magnificent and important Rand Complex. A recent ruling gave the “Trust” permission to reclaim a few empty rooms in the building complex and a young “lucky” couple has just moved into these rooms.

Mazal tov.

And yes indeed  – Menachem Mendel Rand is finally smiling in the Heavens!

Many important people lived in the complex in the early-mid-late 19th century – including, Eliezer Ben Yehuda (Renewal of Hebrew language), Rav Yehosef Schwartz (writer of Israel Geography & History), Yehoshua Berman (Bakery/flour mill), the Rebbe from Lublin-Rabbi Shnear Zalman Fridkin (Writer of Torat Chessed), Rabbi Yehuda Leib Yavetz, Rabbi Naftali Chaim Hurvitz…and many others.

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For those who would like involvement with this vital and unfolding Rand project – please be in touch with me at the main Jerusalem Office of Ateret Cohanim.

It’s always a great time to be involved in redeeming Jerusalem, but especially in the Three Weeks from the 17th Tammuz till Tisha B’Av.

Entry operation project- including ensuring water electricity and securing doors windows and other basics for young couple: $25-35,000