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The Holy Temple - Beit Hamikdash
articles on The Holy Temple - Beit Hamikdash

Nikanor, His Doors, and the Sea Creature
In the Holy Temple, between the women's courtyard and the Israelites' courtyard, there was a gate called the Gate of Nikanor

The importance of the Temple
Why do we need the holy temple, won't any synagogue do?

The Seder Avodah of Yom Kippur
What is the meaning of the Seder Avoda that we recite on Yom Kipur? Why do we say it and what are we to learn from it?

What Do We Lack With No Temple?
Why is it that only regarding the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash do we ask that it happen speedily?
Lessons on The Holy Temple - Beit Hamikdash

Still No Holy Temple - What Are We Missing?
I don't understand what exactly we are missing by not having a Beit Mikdash. Throughout both the Written and Oral Torahs we see that the Temple is something tremendous and amazing – but in order for me to really mourn over its absence, can you help me understand what exactly it will give us?

Levi'im and Kohanim- What's the Difference?!
Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 246
We all know that the Levi'im (Levites) have a special status & had unique roles in the Beit HaMikdash, but what is it? What's the common denominator between their singing, guarding, opening the gates & their role as the Torah teachers of Israel? Levi means "accompany" & they escort both the aristocratic Kohanim & the "lay" Israelite farmers. They are the visible & "hear-able" go-between at the entrance of the Temple, & the Torah educators who go around the country. They are not the super-stars, but rather represent the functional & necessary, which often go "unsung". A review of all of the details of the Levite laws beautifully show this point, & explain the Talmudic connection between them & Lashon Hara (negative speech).

Sifting the Makom HaMikdash
Recently, someone asked me a shaylah that involves what is probably one of the most heart-breaking issues I was ever asked. The question was: “Are there any halachic issues involved in sifting through the earth removed by the Waqf from the Makom HaMikdash?” To explain this shaylah, I will first explain what has happened, then discuss the halachic issues involved — and finally explain the answers. There is also a fascinating halachic-architectural issue that I noticed while studying photographs of the Moslem construction, which I will discuss at the end of this article.
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Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!

Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.

Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.











