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Articles, videos and slide shows which have formerly appeared on the Temple Institute
page are now listed below for easier access. |
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 Sivuv She'arim: Pledging Our Loyalty to the Temple Mount
On Rosh Chodesh Av, (the first day of the month of Av), a record crowd of over 12,000 Jewish souls arrived outside the Temple Mount to celebrate the new month and to express their yearning for the Holy Temple. The gathering marched around the circumference of the Temple Mount, stopping before each of the gates which lead up to the Mount. Outside the Mercy Gate, (Sha'ar HaRachamim), on the eastern retaining wall of the Mount, the people assembled and made a special declaration of loyalty to the Temple Mount and the Holy Temple.
To view photographs and to learn more, please click .
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 Sivuv She'arim: Jerusalem, Jewish Prayer and the Temple Mount
On the afternoon of Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, (Monday, July 12), the traditional monthly sivuv she'arim (encirclement of the Temple Mount gates), will begin at 7:00 PM at the entrance to the plaza of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. At 8:15 all participants will assemble before the Sha'ar HaRachamim (Mercy Gate) at the Eastern Wall, and make a declaration of loyalty to the holy city of Jerusalem and to the Temple Mount, place of the Holy Temple. Included will be a clear statement of protest over the Israel police's discriminatory policy against Jews and Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount.
For more details, including transportation information, please call 1-700-70-70-21.
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 The Temple Institute Presents:
Conference on the Holy Temple - 5770
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On the evening of June 17th, 2010, Rabbi Chaim Richman spoke to a standing-room-only crowd in Houston, Texas. For nearly two hours the Rabbi held the audience spellbound as he brought to them his unique message of the immediacy of Torah in every man's life, weaving together the timeless message of Torah with the prophetic events taking place today. If you couldn't be there, or if you want to hear it again:
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THE 17TH DAY OF THE MONTH OF TAMMUZ begins the three week period of mourning during which the nation of Israel increasingly occupies its thoughts with the Holy Temple. The 17th of Tammuz marks a dawn-to-dark fast day. The three week period ends with its climax on the 9th day of Av, the date of the destruction of both Holy Temples, observed as a 25 hour fast. These three weeks are also marked by the observance of various customs of mourning, which progressively intensify in stages from the beginning of the month of Av.
WHILE JEWISH LAW SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATES this time period as one of mourning, the appellation may be misleading. When a family suffers a loss, the Jewish mourning customs help the mourners to come to grips with their loss, to work their way through it, both physically, spiritually, and emotionally, and ultimately to enable the mourners to return to the fullness of their lives. They are unable to make that return until they "get over" their loss.
THESE THREE WEEKS TAKE ON the various aspects of mourning, however, with quite the opposite intention. We are never supposed to "get over" this loss! Mourning the loss of the Holy Temple each year is intended to jar us into realizing that our lives as Jews, as human beings on this earth, cannot and will not return to the fullness that G-d has intended for us, so long as the Holy Temple is not standing on its destined spot on Mount Moriah, and the Divine Service has not been reinstated.
THE PURPOSE OF THE THREE WEEKS is not to provide a convenient means with which we can compartmentalize our suffering the loss of the Holy Temple. As Jews and as righteous Gentiles we must use these days for taking personal stock, and for recommitting ourselves toward realizing the vision of Isaiah: " ...and My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." (Isaiah 57:6). Two video teachings by Rabbi Chaim Richman about the month of Tammuz and the fast of the seventeenth are now available online. Both were originally posted one year ago, and both remain relevant and meaningful today.
The following eight minute interview with Rabbi Richman, entitled, "Understanding the Fast of the 17th of Tamuz,"was originally posted one year ago, but remains relevant and meaningful today. Click to view. |
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 Spiritual and Practical Goals for the Month of Tammuz
A message from Rabbi Chaim Richman
OUR HOLY SAGES TEACH US that the month of Tammuz is all about seeing... but to really see means more than just looking with our eyes; it means a spiritual "seeing" as well, seeing deeply, with faith in G-d; seeing the true nature of things. It was during this month of Tammuz that the spies who were sent out by Moshe to scout out the land, were walking throughout the land and seeing everything in a negative light, according to their own limitations, agendas and prejudices. Even when G-d is providing for our every need with loving care, a person can still see only what he wants to see.
OUR SAGES TEACH THAT THIS SIN - evil speech against the Land of Israel - was so grievous, and caused such spiritual damage, that it must be rectified in every generation. Indeed, it was this sin of doubting G-d and speaking ill against the Land of Israel - and all of the people's accepting this lashon hara - that resulted in the Divine decree which prevented that generation from entering into the Promised Land, and it was the debacle of these spies' gossip that led to the destruction of the Holy Temple on Tisha B'Av.
IRONICALLY, DURING THESE VERY DAYS efforts are being made, and efforts are being renewed, to divide the Land of Israel. There are powers at work that seek to undermine Jewish sovereignty in the land that Hashem promised to our fathers. There are voices that dare cast doubt over the Jews' right to their own Divine inheritance. These voices even have the audacity to proclaim that it is not "legitimate" or "legal" for Jews to live anywhere within this land. They seek to limit the number of Jewish babies allowed to be born.
WE KNOW THAT THE TORAH'S PERSPECTIVE REGARDING TIME, and the secret of the Hebrew calendar itself, is nothing less than a rendezvous with destiny. We're not learning about history, we're not reliving it... we are presented with a Divine challenge to actually make history! During this month of Tammuz, we have the chance to try and rectify the sins of the spies. We can do this by fighting against the growing band-wagon of modern-day tale bearing and negativity being directed against the Land of Israel. We can do this by only seeing and speaking positively about the Land. For this land is a direct reflection of His own sovereignty in this world, and the fate of the Land of Israel is directly connected to the fate of all mankind: Israel brings blessing to the entire world. And wherever you live... do not see or speak negatively about everything that G-d does for you!
THE SPIES, WHO COULD HAVE BEEN REMEMBERED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, failed miserably because they looked at everything with a negative perspective. They allowed their eyes to deceive them, not realizing that the secret of conquering the Land lies in elevating our physical world to a level of holiness.
LET'S NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. |
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| 2010 SPEAKING TOUR
Look through our diary of Rabbi Richman's 2010 America speaking tour, and what all the excitement was about.
If you have attended any of Rabbi Richman's teachings and have photographs or thoughts you would like to share, please send them along to us, ASAP, and we will add them to our . All comments and photos, (digital) should be sent to |
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 INVEST IN THE BUILDING OF THE HOLY TEMPLE
Be a part of the effort to raise Temple consciousness in Israel and around the globe. If you are an American citizen, you can now put your money where your heart is, and do it tax-free: The Temple Institute, Inc., an American organization, that has been established and has applied for tax-exempt status by the IRS as a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization for income tax purposes in the USA is a strong supporter of and contributor to the work of the Temple Institute.
To qualify for the tax deduction, your donation must be made out by check to the following: |
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The Temple Institute, Inc.
PO Box 93187
Lubbock, TX
79493 |
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Thank you for your support. Together we can see the dream of the Holy Temple become a reality! |
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 Bringing the First-Fruits
Today we celebrate Shavuot, the day in which the nation of Israel first received Torah at Sinai, with an all-night total immersion in Torah study. Yet, the central avodah - worship - in the Holy Temple - was the bringing of the bikkurim - first fruits. To learn more about how Shavuot was celebrated in the Holy Temple, please click .
The Temple Institute wishes to the entire house of Israel, and to all who stand today at Mount Sinai and seek to receive the truth of Torah, a joyful Shavuot. |
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YOM CHAMISHI (THURSDAY): TODAY MARKS 49 DAYS OF THE OMER, (SEVEN WEEKS).
"The L-rd spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you shall enter the Land that I give you, and reap its harvest, you shall bring an Omer from your first harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the Omer before the L-rd, to be accepted for you. On the day after the rest day, (the first day of Passover), the priest shall wave it. On the day you wave the Omer, you shall perform the service of an unblemished lamb as a burnt-offering before the L-rd. Its meal-offering shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a fire offering to the L-rd, a satisfying aroma; and its libation shall be wine, a quarter-hin. You shall not eat bread or roasted kernels or plump kernels until this very day, until you bring the offering of your G-d; it is an eternal decree for your generations in all your dwelling places."
"You shall count for yourselves - from the day after the rest day (Passover), from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving - seven weeks, they shall be complete. Until the morrow of the seventh week you shall count, fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal offering to the L-rd." (Leviticus 23:9-12)
Click to learn more about the barley offering and Sefirat HaOmer - the counting of the Omer.
a brief slide show depicting the barley harvest and the Omer offering during the time of the Holy Temple.
Watch Rabbi Richman's Light to the Nations video teaching of the spiritual message of the forty nine day counting of the Omer: "Hanging in the Balance: The great illumination of 'instant' freedom that we experience on the Seder night so often seems to pass us by. Slaves yesterday, free men today, we simply haven't the vessels to be able to absorb the great chesed Ñ loving kindness Ñ and enlightenment that G-d had blessed us with. For this we have Sefirat HaOmer - the counting of the days of the Omer, that prepares us gradually for the great re-illumination of G-d's light Ñ receiving Torah on Mount Sinai." Click to view. |
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"With a Mighty Hand and an Outstretched Arm"
(from the Passover Haggadah)
When G-d decided to free the children of Israel from the oppression of Egypt, nothing could stand in His way: not Pharaoh, the most powerful potentate on earth, and not even the impassable Yam Suf - the Sea of Reeds. These truths may seem patently self-evident as we reflect on the exodus from Egypt, but we are commanded to remind ourselves every day of the exodus, so as not to forget that what applied for our forefathers three thousand and five hundred years ago, applies no less for us today. When we decide to free ourselves from the many kinds of bondage we face in life, both those self-imposed, and those imposed by society, G-d will be there, "With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm," to take us to our promised land. The promise of freedom - true freedom - the freedom to serve our G-d as He has commanded us - cannot be denied!
THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE extends its blessings for a joyful and kosher Chag Cherut Ñ Festival of Freedom Ñ to the entire house of Israel and to all who seek the G-d of Israel. Happy Passover!
Please take the time to visit us online and learn more about the exodus from Egypt, Pesach as it was observed in the Holy Temple, and the deep spiritual lessons of Passover that can inform our lives today:
Tune in to this week's as Rabbi Richman and Yitzchak Reuven, exhausted from their Passover preparations, discuss the great Passover night conundrum: G-d redeems Israel in a flash of spiritual illumination that washes over us and leaves us dazed. But the very next morning we roll up our sleeves and start the arduous process of counting the days and weeks of the Omer, while preparing ourselves spiritually for receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.
This week features the latest Bat Melech video teaching with Rabbanit Rena Richman, entitled, "Righteous Women, Part II: The second part of a series in which Rena explores and shares the great spiritual depths of the righteous women who protected the children of Israel from the evil decree of Pharaoh, and prepared them for their eventual exodus from bondage and emergence as a free people. Part II focusses on the central role women played in the liberation of the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage." Click to view.
Today also features the Light to the Nations teaching by Rabbi Chaim Richman, entitled, "The Passover Experience: Korban Pesach: The Passover offering in the Holy Temple, perhaps the single most important act of the year for every man, woman and child of the people of Israel: How it was, and will be performed in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem." Click to view.
This coming Monday, April 13th, the new Light to the Nations teaching will be aired: "Hanging in the Balance: The great illumination of 'instant' freedom that we experience on the Seder night so often seems to pass us by. Slaves yesterday, free men today, we simply haven't the vessels to be able to absorb the great chesed Ñ loving kindness Ñ and enlightenment that G-d had blessed us with. For this we have Sefirat HaOmer - the counting of the days of the Omer, that prepares us gradually for the great re-illumination of G-d's light Ñ receiving Torah on Mount Sinai." Click to view.
Now is the time to further augment your knowledge of how Passover is intended to be observed. Have a look at our classic online Passover narrative, "SHLOMO'S PASSOVER ADVENTURE," the informative story of a family's pilgrimage to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Freedom with the entire family of Israel. A must for children and adults. Click ! |
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 "According to all that I show you, the pattern of the mishkan and the pattern of all its vessels; and so shall you do." (Exodus 25:9)
This week's Torah reading of Terumah, (Exodus 25:1-27:19), is fully preoccupied with the building of the mishkan - the tabernacle. To learn more about the structure of the mishkan, please click . |
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Continue to look for previous features on . |
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The Temple Institute website is an ongoing project of the International Department of the Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel.
Web site hosting and programming copyright ©2000-2012, graciously provided by
Electric Scribe (SM).
Web site contents, including all text and images, copyright ©1991-2012, Rabbi Chaim Richman & The Temple Institute.
Reproduction in any form whatsoever, for any purpose, is strictly forbidden without written permission of the copyright holder.
All Rights Reserved. |
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