Rabbi Who Took 4 Bullets For Religious Freedom To Honor Charlie Kirk With Prayer Rally In Jerusalem

Rabbi Yehudah Glick, a former Israeli Knesset member and prominent advocate for Jewish prayer rights on the Temple Mount, has announced plans to lead a prayer rally in honor of slain American conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Glick, himself a survivor of a 2014 assassination attempt, views Kirk’s death not only as a personal tragedy but as a symbolic attack on values they both championed — faith, freedom of speech, and biblical truth.

In an emotional interview with Israel National News, Glick expressed deep sorrow over Kirk’s assassination, calling it “a personal shock” and a reminder of the dangers faced by those who speak openly about their values. Drawing a parallel between his own near-fatal shooting and Kirk’s targeted killing, Glick emphasized that people of faith and conviction are often the ones most vulnerable to extremist violence. “Who are the people that are targeted for assassination? It’s people who believe in freedom of speech, but also have truth and faith that they’re willing to speak about,” he said.

Glick sees Kirk as more than a political figure — he represents a growing and powerful alliance between evangelical Christians and supporters of Israel. Glick described Kirk as a man who lived by biblical principles, including the sanctity of family and respect for religious tradition. He noted that Kirk had shown reverence for the Temple Mount and advocated for the right of all believers to pray there, regardless of faith.

In tribute to Kirk’s legacy, Glick is organizing a joint Jewish-Christian prayer rally on the Temple Mount just before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. He chose this symbolic date to align with themes of renewal, creation, and divine justice. The rally, he explained, will be a spiritual gathering of Jews and Christians “calling out together to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Glick’s goal is not only to honor Kirk but also to strengthen the interfaith alliance that he believes is critical to the future of Israel and the world.

This move is deeply personal for Glick, whose activism has long centered on religious freedom and mutual respect among faiths. Despite surviving an attempt on his life in 2014 — shot four times at close range by a Palestinian assailant who accused him of being an “enemy of Al-Aqsa” — Glick remains committed to nonviolence and dialogue. He rejects the notion that his vision for the Temple Mount excludes Muslims. Instead, he envisions it as a “world center for religious tolerance,” where Jews, Christians, and Muslims can all pray freely. “I respect their right to pray, and I don’t bother their prayer. And I expect them to respect my right to pray with them,” Glick stated.

(For a comprehensive explanation of the centrality of the Temple Mount for Jews, see here.)

Glick’s experience of surviving the assassination attempt — an attack that left him severely wounded and hospitalized for weeks — has only strengthened his determination. He continues to lead efforts for greater Jewish access to the Temple Mount and now sees the momentum shifting. Where once he was a lone voice in the religious community, today thousands of Jews, including prominent rabbis, have joined the movement. Glick also founded the organization HaLiba (“The Heart”) and leads tours of the Temple Mount, promoting a peaceful Jewish presence there.

He is also deeply involved in humanitarian work through Amitim, an Israeli organization supporting widows and orphans. In light of Kirk’s death, Glick sees renewed urgency in supporting families shattered by violence — whether in Israel or abroad.

Ultimately, Glick’s decision to lead a prayer rally for Kirk is a culmination of his life’s mission: promoting interfaith unity, freedom of worship, and peace through shared biblical values. By bringing Jews and Christians together at the holiest site in Judaism, Glick hopes to send a message that the values Kirk stood for — faith, family, truth, and freedom — will not be silenced, but elevated through prayer, solidarity, and mutual respect.