National Council of Young Israel
111 John Street, Suite 450, New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212.929.1525 Fax: 212.727.9526
www.youngisrael.org

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
September 10, 2007
Office of the Prime Minister
Elul 26 5767
Jerusalem, Israel

Dear Prime Minister Olmert,

The National Council of Young Israel represents more than of 150 community
synagogues in the United States and Canada, as well as over 50 community
synagogues throughout Israel. As a group of Diaspora and Israeli Jews who
hold the utmost regard for the Temple Mount and other holy places throughout
the land of Israel, we must state our outrage at the Israeli government's
decision to allow the Waqf to dig on the Temple Mount, destroying what
appear to be remnants of a wall built during the second Temple period.

Regardless of the reason given for the digging, the Waqf, in brazen
disregard for history and the significance of the site for Jews the world
over, has already allowed for the destruction of artifacts and has made
discoveries about the Temple that remain unavailable to Jewish researchers.

It is incomprehensible that the State of Israel would allow for a non-Jewish
religious entity that denies the very existence of the two Temples-to be
entrusted with digging on the Temple Mount. Such inconsistent and distorted
principles signify a lack of sensitivity towards our own land and history.

The current situation inherently contradicts Israel's Protection of Holy
Places Law, which guarantees the sanctity of all holy sites, and makes it a
punishable offense to desecrate or deny freedom of access to them. There is
no doubt that the law is to be applied to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy
sites, to preserve the shared history and holiness of the entire area.

On behalf of Jews worldwide, we respectfully insist that you put an
immediate halt to all digging on the Temple Mount and give instant access to
the Israel Antiquities Authority and all interested parties to survey the
digging area and any artifacts that have been uncovered and/or damaged.

In honor of the Jewish New Year, the National Council of Young Israel prays
for a year of shalom in Israel and a year of continued pride in the people
and land of Israel.

Sincerely yours,

Shlomo Z. Mostofsky, ESQ.
President

Rabbi Pesach Lerner
Executive Vice President

CC: Shuka Dorfman, Israel Antiquities Authority
Rishon L'Tzion Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger
Uri Lupolianski, Mayor of Jerusalem
Adam Emmerich, Jacob Fisch, American Friends of Israel Antiquities Authority
Members of the Knesset