Temple Institute

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The Temple Institute, known in Hebrew as Machon HaMikdash (Hebrew: מכון המקדש), is a organization in Israel focusing on the controversial endeavor of re-establishing the Third Temple. Its aim is to build the third Jewish temple on the Temple Mount, on the site currently occupied by the Dome of the Rock, and to reinstate sacrificial worship. It aspires to reach this goal through the study of Temple construction and ritual. It was founded and is headed by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel. Its director is Rabbi Yehuda Glick. It identifies with the extreme-right wing of Religious Zionism.

1 Building of Temple Ritual Items
2 Red Heifer
3 Controversies
- 3.1 Rebuilding a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount
- 3.2 Ascending the Temple Mount
4 Prominent members of the Temple Institute
5 See also
6 References and footnotes
7 External link

[edit] Building of Temple Ritual Items

Temple Institute - Ritual Objects
Item	Purpose
Copper Laver	For Kohanim to wash at start of day
Mizrak	Holds blood from sacrificial animals
Large Mizrak	Holds blood from larger animals
Three Pronged Fork	To arrange offerings on Altar
Measuring Cup	To measure meal offerings
Copper Vessel for Meal Offerings	To prepare meal offerings
Silver Shovel	To remove ashes from Altar
Silver Vessel for Wine Libation	For wine accompanying offerings
Lottery Box	For Yom Kippur
Silver Altar Cup for Water Libation	For Sukkot
Silver Libation Vessels	For Sukkot
Sickle	To reap the Omer barley
Other Offering Implements	To offer the Omer barley
Abuv	To roast the Omer barley
Menorah Cleansing Vessel	To clean the Menorah
Oil Pitcher	For replenishing the Menorah
Small Golden Flask	For replenishing individual Menorah lamps
Frankincense Censer
Incense Chalice	For Ketoret or Incense Offering
Incense Shovel	For Ketoret or Incense Offering
Menorah	See Menorah
Table of the Showbread	See Showbread
Incense Alter	For Ketoret or Incense Offering
Ark of the Covenant (mock up)	See Ark of the Covenant
The Crown	Crown worn by the High Priest
Garments of the High Priest	See High Priest
Silver Trumpets	Announce special occasions and offerings
Gold-Plated Shofar	For Rosh Hashanah. See Shofar
Silver-Plated Shofar	For fast days. See Shofar
Harp	Used by the choir of Levites singing Psalms
Lyre	Used by the choir of Levites singing Psalms

Main article: The Third Temple

As part of its ongoing effort to prepare for a future rebuilt Temple, the Temple Institute has been preparing ritual objects suitable for Temple use. Several items to be used in the Temple have been made by the Temple Institute. [1]

[edit] Red Heifer

Main article: Red Heifer

In addition to a variety of items required for service within the Temple, the Institute has attempted to locate a parah adumah (Red heifer) consistent with the requirements of Numbers 19:1-22 and Mishnah Tractate Parah for purposes of taharah (purification) necessary to enter the Temple sanctuary proper in most circumstances. ^[1] In recent years, the Institute identified two candidates, one in 1997 and another in 2002.^[2]) The Temple Institute had initially declared both kosher, but later found each to be unsuitable.

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Rebuilding a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount

Main article: The Third Temple

Although Orthodox Judaism generally agrees that the Temple in Jerusalem will and should be rebuilt, there is a substantial disagreement about whether this should occur by human or divine hands. The Temple Institute follows the opinion of the Rambam (Maimonides) that Jews should attempt to build the Temple themselves, and have a mitzvah (obligation) to do so if they can. Rambam's opinion, however, is a controversial one and has aroused substantial opposition.

[edit] Ascending the Temple Mount

Main article: Temple Mount

The rabbis associated with the Temple Institute hold (also following the Rambam) that it is, under certain conditions, permissible under Jewish law for Jews to visit parts of the Temple Mount, and periodically organize groups to ascend and tour the Mount. The view that Jews may ascend the Temple is highly controversial among Orthodox rabbis, with many authorities completely prohibiting visiting the Mount to prevent accidental entrance into and desecration of the Holy of Holies or other sacred, off-limits areas.