Video of Fox Near Har Habayis on Tisha B’av Makes Global Headlines (VIDEO)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A video of a fox walking near the Har Habayis on Tisha B’Av–a sign of the fulfillment of a well-known Navi prophesy – was widely shared last week on What’s App and other social media platforms.

For many, the video was uplifting and inspiring, a symbol that the geulah and the coming of Moshiach are imminent.

Not only did the astonishing footage get widespread attention in Jewish circles, it was featured on popular secular news outlets as well, including Drudge Report, which has tens of millions of visitors.

@yayadib♬ צליל מקורי – Yair

The Jerusalem Post featured a headline: “Fox spotted along walls of Temple Mount sparks talk of prophecy”

Even Drudge Report, which has 15-20 million visits per day, linked to the story.

The prophesy in Michah is famously quoted at the end of Maseches Makkos.

As quoted on Chabad.org:

Again it happened that Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria, Rabbi Joshua and Rabbi Akiva went up to Jerusalem. When they reached Mt. Scopus, they tore their garments. When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the place of the Holy of Holies. The others started weeping; Rabbi Akiva laughed.

Said they to him: “Why are you laughing?”

Said he to them: “Why are you weeping?”

Said they to him: “A place [so holy] that it is said of it, ‘the stranger that approaches it shall die,’1 and now foxes traverse it, and we shouldn’t weep?”

Said he to them: “That is why I laugh. For it is written, ‘I shall have bear witness for Me faithful witnesses—Uriah the Priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.’2 Now what is the connection between Uriah and Zechariah? Uriah was [in the time of] the First Temple, and Zechariah was [in the time of] the Second Temple! But the Torah makes Zachariah’s prophecy dependent upon Uriah’s prophecy. With Uriah, it is written: ‘Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field; [Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the Temple Mount like the high places of a forest.]’3 With Zachariah it is written, ‘Old men and women shall yet sit in the streets of Jerusalem.’4

“As long as Uriah’s prophecy had not been fulfilled, I feared that Zechariah’s prophecy may not be fulfilled either. But now that Uriah’s prophecy has been fulfilled, it is certain that Zechariah’s prophecy will be fulfilled.”

With these words they replied to him: “Akiva, you have consoled us! Akiva, you have consoled us!”