Questions tagged [beis-hamikdash]
Relating to (one or two) of the two Temples that stood in Jerusalem.
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Berachot 3a - Verb choices regarding Temple destruction
Pesikta Rabasi (28 mid.) suggests that there are two aspects of the Temple. An upper [spiritual] one and a lower [physical] one.
אחריבנו אמר רבי תחליפא בר קרויה באותה שעה נכנסו כל מלאכי השרת ועמדו ...
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Why was it improper to stick out a thumb in the Temple?
The Mishnah says, in Yoma 2:1, “the assigner [of tasks] would tell [all of] them: "Stick out your fingers [for the procedure to assign the task]." And what would they stick out? Either one or two [...
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Why didn't our forefathers build a Temple?
Following my previous question "why-did-our-forefathers-live-in-tents-in-israel-and-not-in-houses":
The concept of a Temple is not new, Yaakov already called the place "בית אלהים". However, as we can ...
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3answers
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Can a yeshiva be holier than Beis Hamikdosh?
Rambam in his Mishneh Torah (Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 11:14) states that a hall of study is holier than a synagogue.
This raises an interesting question if a hall of study can be holier than ...
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Orientation of Kahati's map of the Beis Hamikdash
R' Kahati's map of the Beis Hamikdash - that is printed just before the beginning of Meseches Midos - has South at the top and North at the bottom. I have always found this a little confusing, being ...
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Were Kohanim in the Temple obligated in Torah reading?
Following "synagogue-in-the-temple",
In the times of the Second Temple, assuming that not all Kohanim were involved in Temple Service all the time:
Were they obligated in Torah reading and was ...
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What is meant by “synagogue” in the Temple in Sota 7.8?
THe Mishna (Sotah 7.8) describes the order of transferring a Torah scroll to the King for reading on Hakhel:
חַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת נוֹטֵל סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה וְנוֹתְנָהּ לְרֹאשׁ הַכְּנֶסֶת, וְרֹאשׁ ...
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Which Books in English Go into Kabbalistic Depth of the Beit Hamikdash?
Looking for a reference book in English from the mekorot on every aspect of the Beit Hamikdash.
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Is there a timetable of the Yom Kippur Avodah available?
I'm trying to get a sense of how long each part of the Kohen Gadol's day was. I have the impression that the (outer) Musaf offering took much longer than the Torah reading, but I have no idea how much ...
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High Priest vs Sanhedrin - who decides?
Who outpowers whom in Halochos of running the Temple - the Nassi and the Sanhedrin or the High Priest and his team of working Kohanim, assuming he's a Chacham also?
If the Sanhedrin, what means do ...
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What does Genesis 8:21 promise and why?
JPS Bereshith/Genesis 8:21 And the Lord smelled the pleasant aroma, and the Lord said to Himself, "I will no longer curse the earth because of man, for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his ...
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How many Cohanim and Levi'im worked in the Temple daily?
How many Cohanim and Levi'im worked in the Temple daily (excluding supporting professions, like preparing woods or oils) and how many of them stayed there for sleep?
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Was there a synagogue inside the Temple?
I vaguely remember seeing in Mishnayos (probably second half of Moed, maybe Taanis - potentially in connection to where the Maamados said their Tefillos - but can't find it now) that there was a Shul ...
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What direction did the Great Sanhedrin face?
In the standard scheme of the Temple and the Great Sanhedrin, taking the fact that they sat in an arc, what direction did they face - South (Altar), East (Ezrat Nashim), West(K"K) or North (wall)?
I'...
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Is there any connection between the Sotah, the Mizbeiach, and the Beis HaMikdash keychain?
In exactly three contexts, the Mishnah notes that there was an amah square marble slab with a ring, using exactly the same language each time.
The first is in Sotah 2:2, regarding the Sotah procedure:...
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Where (in relation to the Jerusalem temple) did Jacob's dream take place in Genesis 28:19?
Was Jacob's stone pillow the location of Solomon's temple?:
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Why didn't the Jews appoint a king before rebuilding the temple?
In the times of Ezra and Nechemia the temple was rebuilt. Rambam codifies that the mitzvah to appoint a king comes before the mitzvah to build the temple. If that is the case why didn't the Jews ...
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2answers
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How to reduce Sinas Chinam
Sinas Chinam (baseless hatred) is often given as the reason why Moshiach hasn't come and we don't have the 3rd Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple). Are there any sources for what we can do on a personal ...
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Should religious Jews look forward to the resumption of animal sacrifices?
I am trying to integrate all the facts and thoughts listed below to answer the following question:
Should I hope for the resumption of animal sacrifices?
1-Prayers for rebuilding the Temple and ...
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Does an Ir Miklat citizen man have property?
Can (does) one who has murdered and must go to a refuge city own property there?
Specifically real estate, this would make a difference regarding his obligation to come to the temple three times a ...
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During the Second Temple period, did the High Priest wear an additional crown on their headdress?
The High Priest's headdress was to be made of fine linen on which a gold plate was attached:
36 You shall make a frontlet of pure gold and engrave on it the seal inscription: "Holy to the LORD." 37 ...
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Does anyone attempt to make sense out of the claim that korbanos won't resume?
I've occasionally seen people claim that korbanos won't resume in the time of Mashiach. The people I usually see mentioned in association with this claim are Rambam and Rav Kook.
The obvious ...
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Why will sacrifices resume if prayer and repentence suffice?
When the Beis Hamikdash is restored, sacrifices are supposed to resume. But why? For centuries now we have been taught that the offerings of our lips replace bullocks. For what reason does korbonot ...
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How does one get an animal off of the Altar surreptitiously?
The Mishna, in Zevachim 9:3, lists blemished animals among those that are inherently invalid for the Altar, such that if they are brought up onto it, they are brought down again. Then, R' Chanina, ...
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Recommendation for Temple archeological tour
It's been a while since I have visited the archeological sites near the Temple area. I believe that you appreciate what you read in history is best appreciated by personally seeing it.
As I plan to ...
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Does the Talmud discuss “Solomon's Pools”
I recall visiting Solomon's Pools, located a bit south of Bethlehem, years ago, before it became "Area A". Wikipedia says:
The water system based on Solomon's Pools has provided water to
...
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What Caused Jerusalem to be Destroyed?
The Gemara states the following:
Abaye said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because people desecrated the Shabbos in it (Shabbos 119b)
Rabbi Abbahu said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because its ...
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1answer
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Were there backups for the Temple tools?
We all know the importance of backups. Many Temple tools were [seemingly] crucial for everyday tasks: Menorah, Table, Gold Altar, Ash of the Red Heifer, etc.
It would take (probably) days to replace ...
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In the 2nd temple period were either the tabernacle or the temple ever referred to as “heaven and earth”?
I have read that in the 2nd temple period the tabernacle and/or the temple were referred to as "heaven and earth". And that the holy place was heaven and the outer court was earth? Is that so?
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What did people know about Moshiach in the times of the Beis Hamikdash?
When did the 'coming of Moshiach' become a thing in Judaism? When was it first discussed in Jewish literature?
Did people in the times of the first or second Beis Hamikdash think that life as they ...
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Kohen with eyeglasses
Is having imperfect eyesight that requires the wearing of eyeglasses a problem for a Kohen?
The question is two-fold:
1) Does the imperfect eyesight render him a ba'al mum (physical blemish) which ...
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1answer
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What was the “cast sea” or “molten sea” יָם מוּצָק specifically used for and by whom?
What was the "cast sea" or "molten sea" יָם מוּצָק specifically used for and by whom?
It appears to be also known as "Yam sheasah Shlomo". https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.58b?lang=bi
What was it used ...
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When did they stop offering the korban during the Roman siege
Sheva asar betammuz commemorates the end of the korban tamid (ערכין י"א ע"ב), but is it during the first temple? When did they stop in the second temple?
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Where in the Temple does the Shechina sit?
The Temple is G-d's "דירה בתחתונים"
(see תנחומא נשא טז: "נתאוה הקב"ה להיות לו דירה בתחתונים"
G-d sits on a chair (כיסא כבוד) in Heaven
The Temple includes a Menorah, a table, a private chamber (K"K), ...
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The butterfly effect in Judaism [closed]
The "butterfly effect" is when very small changes produce very large effects. In Judaism, the Talmud [Gittin 55b-56a; also Lamentations Rabbah 4:3] gives us an example: "The destruction of Jerusalem ...
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Astronomical significance of the placement of the Altar and the Even Hashtiyah
I heard that traditionally the placements of the Altar and Even Hashtiyah (Kodesh Hakodashim) was chosen by G-d from the days of the Creation.
Is there anything special and significant astronomically ...
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How precise were the Temples' directions (East/North)
Calculating the true astronomical North/South is very simple - find the longest way and cast a shadow.
Are there sources on how precise those directions in the Temples were? Are there special Jewish ...
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Do the works on sacrifices require Blessings to validate the intent?
Disclaimer: this is not a Halachic question and I didn't research much yet.
There's a whole subject of having wrong thoughts when bringing a sacrifice and performing numerous actions by the owner or ...
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What type of cedar wood was used to build the Bais Hamikdash?
Related Acacia wood or Cedar
We see that ארז (cedar) was used for the Bais Hamikdash Melachim 1 9:11
And we see that there are many types of ארז (cedar) Bava Basra 80b and Midrash Tanchuma Teruma ...
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Were there additional written scrolls given by G-d to Moses?
Yalkut Shimoni, claims that there was an additional written scroll - the Temple Scroll (?) - given by G-d to Moses and passed on to all the following generations to Shlomo, mimicking the first lines ...
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Do places where the Mishkan stood retain Keddushah?
The Mishkan wandered through tens of camps in the desert and a couple of places in Israel for 480 years, and Holy Services were held in each place.
Are those places sanctified in any way nowadays? Do ...
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Why Temples' dimensions were different from the Mishkan?
After asking "why-did-the-mizbeach-grow-40-times", I realized (thanks JoelK) that both measurements were dictated by G-d (it's unclear to whom: Moses, David or other prophets). See also Yalkut Shimoni ...
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Why did the Mizbeach grow 40 times? [duplicate]
The main, Bronze Altar in the Mishkan was 5 Amos wide. It was also portable.
In the Temple(s), it grew to 32 Amot wide - 6.4 time in width and 41 times in footage1.
EDIT: according to JoelK's answer,...
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5answers
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Why there was no railing on the 5m high Mizbeach?
While looking at drawings of the Temple's Altar, I was impressed by its dimensions: up to 5m (16ft) high and 15m (100ft) wide. Here's a pretty truthful depiction (courtesy of WIKI) that gives an idea ...
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Malkizedek, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount
וּמַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק מֶלֶךְ שָׁלֵם הוֹצִיא לֶחֶם וָיָיִן וְהוּא כֹהֵן לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן׃
And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. (Ber 14, 18)
Many ...
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Non-Jews vs Zavim with respect to entering the Temple
In Niddah 34a, the gemara says that the sages decreed tumah on non-Jews like that of a zav (translation edited from Soncino):
(ויקרא טו) דבר אל בני ישראל ואמרת אליהם איש איש כי יהיה זב בני ישראל ...
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When does hatred “make sense”?
The Talmud says that the Second Temple was destroyed because "senseless hatred" [sin'at chinam] prevailed. Yoma 9b
אבל מקדש שני שהיו עוסקין בתורה ובמצות וגמילות חסדים מפני מה חרב מפני שהיתה בו שנאת ...
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Why fearing the Temple is a Mitzvah on its own?
Rambam Positive Mitzvos #21:
היא שצונו לירא מן המקדש הזה מאד עד שנשים בנפשנו משא הפחד והיראה וזה מיראת מקדש והוא אמרו יתעלה את מקדשי תיראו.
Rambam brings Safri that explains:
ושם נאמר גם כן לא ...
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1answer
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Are children permitted to help build the Beis Hamikdash?
When the Beis Hamikdash is being built, can the children help out [in any way] in its constructing? Perhaps because of their young age there would be a reason to prohibit them from helping out.
In ...
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2answers
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Sources for celebrating Purim during the Second Temple
(Maybe I'm wrong), in the listing of the Dead Sea scrolls fragments Megillat Ester is missing. That seems strange taking into the account that the Megillah says that memory will never fade away.
The ...
