PASSOVER IN THE HOLY TEMPLE!

Every year the citizens of Israel would pack up their necessities and set out from their homes for Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, the Festival of Freedom, with the entire nation. The pilgrimage itself was an adventure, with many stops along the way before arriving, at last in Jerusalem, where the pilgrims arranged lodging for the holiday, received the purifying ashes of the red heifer, if necessary, and then swiftly made their way to the Holy Temple, where, on the eve of the Passover holiday, they would slaughter their Passover offerings. And then back down from the Mount and off to the Jerusalem courtyards where they would roast their Pascal lambs. Nightfall and the people gathered around their Seder spreads to tell the story of Israel's exodus from Egypt, passing the priceless beauty of freedom from generation to generation. And that was just the start of the seven day holiday of Passover!

Join Shlomo ben Ezra and his family, in 2nd Temple times, as they make their way to Jerusalem and celebrate Passover with all of Israel!

Chag Pesach Kasher veSameach - a happy and kosher Passover to all!

SHABBAT HAGADOL - THE GREAT SABBATH & THE POWER OF FAITH!

Shabbat HaGadol - the Great Sabbath! This is the name traditionally given to the Shabbat that immediately precedes the Passover holiday, (which begins Wednesday evening). No one knows exactly when this Shabbat acquired its name, nor why, which, of course, has allowed for much speculation and possible explanations.

One particular explanation is especially compelling. It is traditionally understood that while Israel was still enslaved in Egypt the Shabbat which preceded the first Passover ever and the exodus from Egypt occurred on the 10th of Nisan, (as it does this year!). This very date is integral to G-d's first set of instructions to the yet to be liberated nation of Israel:

"HaShem spoke to Moshe and to Aharon in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year. Speak to the entire community of Israel, saying, "On the tenth of this month, let each one take a lamb for each parental home, a lamb for each household." (Exodus 12:1-3)

Acquiring "a lamb for each household" was not the first commandment Israel received, but the second, following G-d's directive to designate the new moon as the first day of the first month of Israel's brand new calendar. But while observing the appearance of the new moon and declaring the new month required effort and intention and commitment, it did not require unprecedented courage. Acquiring a lamb for each household did. Why?

Egypt, of course, was a an idolatrous nation, and the lamb was considered a sacred animal. It was part of the Egyptian pantheon. Naturally, when the Egyptians spotted the Hebrew slaves leaving their homes on a Shabbat morning and returning later that afternoon, each household with a lamb of its own, their curiosity was piqued. Why, they asked the Hebrews, are you taking lambs to your homes? What are your intentions?

This is where the need for unprecedented courage rose to the fore. Slaughtering the lambs, as Israel was commanded, was a heresy in the eyes of the Egyptians, an offense they certainly wouldn't take lightly, and could be expected to respond to with violence.

Now was the moment of truth for a beaten down people, exploited and oppressed, a people that for generations experienced not a moment of true freedom. A people conditioned to taking orders, to laboring for the benefit of others, a slave nation who had only recently barely outlived an attempted genocide. How would they answer the Egyptians, their taskmasters who always held the upper hand, gripping a whip? Would they reveal their true intentions? Would they tell the Egyptians that they were acquiring sheep to slaughter them on the fourteenth and to march that midnight out of Egypt forever? or would decades of conditioning, of subservience rise to the surface and cause them to let go their intended offerings, and walk back, bowed down to their slave hovels?

G-d had set them up. This was to be Israel's moment of truth. Do they believe in HaShem? Do they believe in His prophet Moshe? Do they possess the courage, born of faith, to tell the Egyptians straight to their faces what their intentions are? If so, they are a free people, even before leaving Egypt. If not, no miracle, no plague of the first-born, no splitting of the sea will ever make them free. Freedom is born of faith, and there is no greater force on earth than faith. Faith in G-d, faith in one's people and faith in oneself. On the tenth of Nisan, a Shabbat four days before fulfilling HaShem's commandment to slaughter, roast and eat from their Passover offerings, Israel showed its courage. No power on earth could hold them back. Freedom was theirs. There is no greater force on earth than faith, and the faith Israel exhibited on this Shabbat earned the name it would henceforth be called: Shabbat HaGadol - the Great Sabbath.

Such courage is required today, perhaps more than ever, as nihilistic isms and totalitarian belief systems are currently fusing into our world's greatest threat to freedom and human dignity in decades. The forces of evil are sweeping across continents and carrying away erstwhile friends and fellow travelers in its wake. The courage of faith is, ultimately all that we are armed with to fend off the modern ideologies of enslavement. An urgent message for our day is contained in the words of the special haftarah we read on Shabbat HaGadol, the words of the prophet Malachi:

"For lo, the sun comes, glowing like a furnace, and all the audacious sinners and all the perpetrators of wickedness will be stubble. And the sun that comes shall burn them up so that it will leave them neither root nor branch, says HaShem of Hosts. And the sun of mercy shall rise with healing in its wings for you who fear My Name. Then will you go forth and be fat as fatted calves. And you shall crush the wicked, for they will be as ash under the soles of your feet on the day that I will prepare, says HaShem of Hosts. Keep in remembrance the teaching of Moshe, My servant - the laws and ordinances which I commanded him in Horev for all Israel. Lo, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of HaShem, that he may turn the heart of the fathers back through the children, and the heart of the children back through their fathers - lest I come and smite the earth with utter destruction."

"Lo, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of HaShem." (Malachi 3:19-24)

Be strong and have courage - freedom is ours!

NISAN: THE MONTH OF PROMISE & REBIRTH

While still an enslaved people, huddling in awe of the overpowering display of providential intent by the G-d of their ancient forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, the children of Israel received their first direct message from HaShem: "This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year." (Exodus 12:2) This one, simple directive would cause a people to be born and change the course of human history.

Fourteen days later Israel would slaughter its Passover offerings, convene for their first Passover Seder and embark on a journey into an unknown wilderness, led by Moshe and an invisible G-d whose presence, albeit unseen, could be felt everywhere.

Precisely one year later, after crossing the Sea of Reeds on dry land, receiving manna from heaven on a daily basis, repelling the deadly ambush of the malign nation of Amalek and receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the one time band of runaway slaves, who had now been forged into a nation on a journey, would complete their first nationwide commitment: the building of a Tabernacle, a home for the presence of HaShem, according to all the precise specifications of HaShem, so that His presence can dwell peacefully among His people. And now, one year after leaving Egypt forever, the people, perched at Mount Sinai, are ready to inaugurate the newly built Tabernacle and begin the Divine service within its courtyard, conducted by the kohanim, Aharon and his sons.

Our sages teach us that on this day, Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the first day of Nisan, ten crowns, or ten firsts, were realized:

It was the first day of Creation, for it occurred on a Sunday;

It was the first day that the princes of the twelve tribes began to bring their offerings in honor of the inauguration of the altar;

It was the first day of that Aharon and his sons began their roles as kohanim;

It was the first day of the Tamid (daily) offering;

It was the first day that fire descended from heaven onto the altar, igniting the first offering;

It was the first day of the restriction that offerings be eaten only in the courtyard of the Tabernacle;

It was the first day of the prohibition against bringing offerings on altars located outside of the Tabernacle;

It was the first day of the first month of the year;

It was the first day that the Shechinah (Divine Presence) rested amongst Israel in the Tabernacle;

It was the first day that Aharon blessed the people with the priestly blessing.

Nisan is known as the month of ge'ulah - redemption - not only because it was the month of the exodus from Egypt, but because it is the month of Israel's future and final redemption, ushering in an age in which Israel will dwell peacefully and securely within her G-d given borders, the evil seed of Amalek will be vanquished forever, the Holy Temple will be rebuilt, the Divine service will be renewed and all the nations will gather in the Temple courtyards in Jerusalem to bask, as brothers, in the Presence of HaShem.

It is no coincidence that Nisan, by definition, ushers in the season of spring. We read in the Song of Songs, "For behold, the winter has passed; the rain is over and gone. The blossoms have appeared in the land, the time of singing has arrived, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree has put forth its green figs, and the vines with their tiny grapes have given forth their fragrance; arise, my beloved, my fair one, and come away." (Song of Songs 2:11-13) The entire earth awakens and reflects G-d's glory in the month of the ge'ulah - the month of promise and redemption.

There is a blessing that can be said only once throughout the year, and only in the month of Nisan. The blessing is made over something small, yet immense; something we take for granted, but which is perhaps one of nature's most visible signs of G-d's love and providence; something that takes place year after year, a sign of HaShem's eternal covenant with humanity.

"Baruch atah Adonay Elohaynu melech haolam shelo chasar b’olamo klum u’bara bo b’riyot tovot v’elanot tovim l’hanot bahem b’nay adam."

"Blessed are You, HaShem, our G-d, King of the Universe, that His world is not lacking anything, and He created in it good creations and good trees for the pleasure of mankind."

The blessing is said when seeing two (or more) flowering fruit trees. It is that simple. But in these simple words of appreciation is a world of awe and gratitude for all the good that G-d provides us each and every day, an awe of an overpowering display of providential love for His children, every bit as full of promise as HaShem's first words to His children Israel.

We are living through tumultuous times, but beyond the sound and fury of our generation's many follies, G-d is still shepherding His people forward to greener pastures. Springtime still arrives in its season. Flowers still appear and fruit trees still bear fruit for the pleasure of mankind. G-d is with us, and we are His beloved.

May this month of Nisan, the first of the months, see the beginning of many blessings for all who cherish and treasure HaShem. Chodesh tov! Have a blessed month!חודש טוב

THE HALF-SHEKEL OFFERING: PARTNERSHIP IN THE HOLY TEMPLE!

THE HALF-SHEKEL OFFERING: PARTNERSHIP IN THE HOLY TEMPLE!

Every year, on the first Shabbat of the month of Adar, or on the Shabbat immediately preceding Adar, (This Shabbat - February 14th!), Jews in synagogues around the world read, in addition to the weekly Torah reading, the following six verses from Exodus 30:11-16. This is known as Parashat Shekalim:

"HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: 'When you take the sum of the children of Israel according to their numbers, let each one give to HaShem an atonement for his soul when they are counted; then there will be no plague among them when they are counted. This they shall give, everyone who goes through the counting: half a shekel according to the holy shekel. Twenty gerahs equal one shekel; half of such a shekel shall be an offering to HaShem. Everyone who goes through the counting, from the age of twenty and upward, shall give an offering to HaShem. The rich shall give no more, and the poor shall give no less than half a shekel, with which to give the offering to HaShem, to atone for your souls. You shall take the silver of the atonements from the children of Israel and use it for the work of the Tent of Meeting; it shall be a remembrance for the children of Israel before HaShem, to atone for your souls.'"

The value today of a half-shekel weight of silver is $12.00

MAKE YOUR HALF-SHEKEL OFFERING NOW!

It is read as a remembrance of the days of the Holy Temple, in which officials were sent from the offices of the Holy Temple to every city and village throughout the land of Israel. There they would set themselves up in the central plazas and collect the half shekel (machatzit hashekel) donation for the funding of the public offerings throughout the upcoming year. It was obligatory for every soul in Israel (over the age of twenty) to make the half shekel contribution. To this day it is customary for Jews to make charitable donations throughout the month of Adar in the name of the half shekel donation.

In these prophetic times when the building of the Holy Temple is nearer than ever, the Half Shekel offering is an unprecedented opportunity to be a partner in the building of the Temple, “a house of prayer for all nations!” (Isaiah 56:7)

As stated in the Torah, "there will be no plague among them when they are counted!" The half shekel donation is a guard against pestilence and pandemic!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HALF-SHEKEL OFFERING!

UPDATE AND CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE RED HEIFER

In light of incorrect information that has been published regarding the red heifer, the Temple Institute would like to announce:

1. For about ten years, the Temple Institute has been engaged in preparations for producing the ashes of the red heifer, both from an educational and practical perspective. The observance of these commandments, the raising of a red heifer according to Torah law and the production of kosher ashes for the purification of the ritually impure, is very complex and includes thousands (!) of details, which require great knowledge and skill in execution. Therefore, the process also includes a number of practical experiments and exercises.

2. About three months ago, a practice was held in the Samarian mountains, in which a simulation of the making of the ashes of the red heifer was conducted.

3. Of course, ashes of the red heifer that are not made on the Mount of Olives while facing the site of the Holy Temple are completely invalid (Mishnah, Para 4:2; Rambam, Para Aduma 4:5). Therefore, we clarify that the simulation was only an exercise, part of a series of exercises that were and, with G-d's help, will continue to be conducted, before we are properly prepared to fulfill the mitzvah according to Torah requirements. The act was not kosher for additional reasons, including: a heifer was chosen for the exercise whose overall color was red, but was, nevertheless, the most invalid and unkosher of the heifers in our possession. (Its tail was damaged and it had a defect). Likewise, the priestly garments worn by the kohen conducting the practice exercise were not consecrated. The purpose of the exercise was to improve our readiness for producing the ashes, and indeed, the exercise improved our understanding of the process, as well as the kohen's skill, and also revealed various weak points that we must deal with, such as the proper way to lead the heifer to its destination.

4. For this reason, the ashes were mostly left by us in place without any care on our part. We did collect samples of the ashes by people who are tamei met, (impure due to contact with a corpse), and are therefore rendered ineligible for performing this mitzvah, only for the purpose of checking whether the equipment we have is suitable for the task, and important lessons were learned in this regard as well. In any case, all of the ashes are completely ineligible.

5. Anyone who claims otherwise, that the heifer was kosher and the ashes produced from it are kosher for the purpose of purification, is mistaken and misleading, either intentionally or unintentionally.

6. There are currently four red heifers at the Shiloh site, some of which are owned by Rabbi Ariel, head of the Temple Institute. Their halachic status has not yet been definitively determined, and we are monitoring them.

7. The real red heifer will be made, G-d willing, when we have a kosher red heifer (according to the opinion of the rabbis of the Temple Institute and the rabbis they consult with), and when we are ready in all other aspects of the matter. This is a long process that requires patience and perseverance.

EXCITING NEWS AT THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE!

In anticipation of Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day, the Temple Institute recently hosted a festive gathering to celebrate the inauguration of four new films which are now integrated into the guided tour through the Institute's Exhibition, located in Jerusalem's Old Clty’s Jewish Quarter, overlooking the Temple Mount.

The gathering included the sounding of silver trumpets by members of the Temple Institute's Levitical Choir, a screening of samplings from the four new movies, inspiring words from Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, the founder of the Temple Institute, and Chief Rabbi of Israel Kalman Bar.

We look forward to welcoming you at our exhibition hall in Jerusalem!

Yom Yerushalayim Sameach - Happy Jerusalem Day!

PARASHAT TERUMAH & THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE!

This week we are reading the Torah portion of Terumah, (Exodus 25:1 - 27:19), which begins with HaShem's historic disclosure to Moshe that He desires to dwell amongst His people Israel:

"HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying:

'Speak to the children of Israel and let them take for Me a portion; you shall take a portion for Me from every person whose heart is so moved by a spirit of generosity. And this is the portion that you shall accept from them: gold, silver, and copper; blue, purple, and crimson wool, fine linen, goats’ hair; tanned ram skins, tachash skins, and acacia wood; oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the aromatic incense; shoham stones and stones for setting, for the Ephod and for the Breastplate.'

And they shall make Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them." (Exodus 25:1-8)

The continuation of parashat Terumah and much of the rest of the book of Exodus will focus on HaShem's instructions how to build for Him a Sanctuary, the many details of the construction of the Tabernacle, the sacred vessels of service to be used by the kohanim, and the fashioning of the priestly garments, focusing on the eight garments to be worn by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest).

For the Temple Institute these verses are nothing less than the breath of life that informs everything we do, from research and writing, to reproducing the sacred vessels and the priestly garments, to creating an unparalleled archive of paintings depicting life in the Holy Temple, all of which can be experienced in person at our Jerusalem exhibition; from seasonal reenactments of the pilgrimage holiday Temple offerings, to intensive work to produce the longed for ashes of the red heifer, and to the recreation of the Levitical Choir which is already engaged in special holiday performances.

Just as HaShem called upon Israel to open its heart to make possible His dream of dwelling amongst His children, we at the Temple Institute call upon all who long for G-d's nearness and to live in a world worthy of His presence, to give generously to help us to continue our sacred work.

HELP US MAKE G-D’S DREAM COME TRUE!

THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE LEVITICAL CHOIR PERFORMS ACHEINU KOL BEIT YISRAEL

On Passover, (2024/5784) the Temple Institute's Levitical Choir performed an outdoor concert in Jerusalem's Old City Jewish Quarter Central Plaza. Among the songs they performed was Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael, (Our brothers, the whole house of Israel), an ancient prayer for the safe delivery of Jews in distress, wherever they may be. In light of today's global assault on Jews by jihadists, woke leftists and assorted hate camp followers, the words of Acheinu Kol Yisrael seem more urgent than ever.

Support the work of the Temple Institute!

THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE: BUILDING THE HOLY TEMPLE!

The three weeks of mourning which stretch from the fast of the 17th of Tammuz to the fast of the 9th of Av may be a time for some people to look backward and dream about the Holy Temple that was. Not so for the people that make up the Temple Institute. The Temple Institute is forever looking forward and working tirelessly to educate Israel and the world about the importance of the Holy Temple in our future, while always training and preparing in every way possible for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service, soon, and in our days!

Support the work of the Temple Institute!

LEVITICAL CHOIR PERFORMS AT THE SOUTHERN WALL OF THE TEMPLE MOUNT!

Last week, during the intermediate days of Sukkot, the Temple Institute's Levitical Choir joined dozens of other musical Levites in a festive performance of Psalm 27. The Temple Institute's Levitical Choir performers can be recognized by their Levitical uniforms, and, of course, the silver trumpets are those reproduced by the Temple Institute. The concert was a joint production of The Temple Institute, the East Jerusalem Development Company, the Municipality of Jerusalem, and others.

The performance took place on the steps leading up to the ancient Hulda Gates on the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount, the gates through which thousands of pilgrims once ascended from the City of David to the Holy Temple.

"One thing I ask of HaShem, that I seek - that I may dwell in the house of HaShem all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of HaShem and to visit His Temple all the days of my life."

TEMPLE TALK: FREEDOM - THE GIFT THAT MUST BE EARNED!

SEEING THE EXODUS STORY IN TODAY'S NEWS!

THE TORAH'S 613 GATES TO FREEDOM!

On the eve of Passover, Temple Talk focuses on freedom, earnestly sought by those who don't have it, and too easily taken for granted by those who do. Freedom is neither a gift nor a given. It must be earned and constantly guarded.

Remember: Helping to make HaShem's dream of a Sanctuary in which His Presence can dwell amongst us, is the work of the Temple Institute! Join us in our efforts!

THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE: BRINGING THE HOLY TEMPLE TO LIFE!

"Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering..." (Ex. 25:2)

Thus begins Terumah, this week's Torah reading, in which HaShem reveals His desire that Israel "make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst." (Ex. 25:8)

The Temple Institute is dedicated to making the Holy Temple a reality in our day, and toward this end, the Temple Institute has, for 36 years, been building and planning and researching and teaching and sharing with you our reconstructed sacred vessels and priestly garments, our books and paintings, our red heifer candidates, our teachings and insights and our love for HaShem and the Holy Temple!

It is only through the generosity of your hearts that we are able to continue our important work. Only together can we build for HaShem a sanctuary and "a house of prayer for all nations!"

SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE!

RED HEIFERS ARRIVE IN ISRAEL!

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality.

We invite you to join us in our worldwide effort to produce the longed-for ashes of the red heifer!