Work is Completed on Herod's Temple

In King Herod's time the Second Temple reached the height of its splendor. The sages of Israel taught: "Whoever has never seen the building constructed by Herod, has never seen a beautiful building in his life. Of what was it constructed? Of marble stones in variegated colors; blue, red and green."

Of the people's attitude and enthusiasm for the building, the rabbis taught: "During the entire time that construction was underway on Herod's Holy Temple, the rains would fall only at night. The next day a wind would scatter the clouds, the sun would shine brilliantly and the people would go forth to their labors... win full realization that they were occupied with the work of heaven." (Ta'anit 23)

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