On Monday this week, an emotional and historic moment took place on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a scene some say has not been witnessed there for nearly two thousand years since the destruction of the Second Temple. Professor Emeritus Meir Levenberg ascended the mount to celebrate his 100th birthday in the very place that has shaped so much of Jewish history.
He was accompanied by his large family – daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren – who joined the other visitors on the mount in a joyful dance to the words May the Lord bless you from Zion and may you see the goodness of Jerusalem, a dance expressing gratitude and hope.
According to a video posted on Twitter (X) by the organization “Beyadenu,” which works to promote access to the Temple Mount, Professor Levenberg also fulfilled the mitzvah of prostration on the mount. His single birthday wish remained simple yet profound – to live to see the rebuilding of the Temple and the altar restored to its place.
מזל טוב 😍
פרופ’ מאיר לבנברג בחר לחגוג את יום הולדתו ה-100 בעלייה להר הבית, ואף זכה להשתחוות.
מאיר עלה מלווה במשפחתו הענפה. ותיקי העולים אומרים שמאיר זכה לעלות להר מאות פעמים.רוצים גם לעלות להר עם משפחה וחברים ולציין אירועים מיוחדים? תאמו איתנו הדרכה:https://t.co/1M68cHuxK8 pic.twitter.com/QTf9Q9agFu
— בידינו – למען הר הבית Beyadenu (@Beyadenu) November 24, 2025
What shaped Professor Emeritus Levenberg’s international academic path?
Professor Levenberg is a prominent figure in the School of Social Work at Bar Ilan University and left a lasting mark on academic research. He began his studies in the late 1940s at two of the most prestigious universities in the United States – Harvard and Columbia. Before joining Bar Ilan University, he held teaching and research positions at several universities in the U.S. and Israel, including Saint Louis University and Tel Aviv University. In 1973, he joined the faculty of Bar Ilan University, where he served as a full professor until 1993.
Throughout his decades of academic work, he focused on a broad range of subjects in the field of social work and became a prolific and respected scholar. His contributions included mentoring generations of social workers and researchers. His research addressed complex ethical dilemmas faced by social workers and proposed structured frameworks for ethical decision-making in moments of conflict.
Even after retiring, Professor Levenberg has remained active, continuing to publish analytical and historical articles, often centered on the Land of Israel and Jewish history. Among his notable works is an extensive study on the status and neglect of the Temple Mount during the Ottoman period.
