The Temple
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Ritual Purification Without a Temple
Can you direct me to a treatise on the evolution of the practice of ritual purification (childbirth, skin diseases, and secretions) following the destruction of the Second Temple? Answer: Hi! The Talmud Shabbat says that the laws of ritual purification…
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The Shamir
What was the shamir, and why was it used in building the Temple? Answer: The shamir is one of the things created at sundown on the sixth day of Creation (Mishnah Avos 5:6). The Talmud (Pesachim 59a) tells about its…
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Communal Offerings and Synagogue Dedications
In Numbers, ch.28, the laws of the Mussaf offerings [a form communal sacrifices] are discussed. How were the animals, flour, oil, and wine paid for? From Temple funds, or did people ‘bid’ on them, as many congregations do today for…
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A Modern Look at Animal Sacrifice
Why are there so many details about animal sacrifice in the Torah? How should a modern Jew view animal sacrifices? Answer: Animal sacrifices are indeed difficult to comprehend in the context of today’s society. In fact, it has come to…
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What makes music enjoyable?
What makes music enjoyable? Answer: Music is the language of the soul. Therefore, when we listen to music, we hear it at a very deep level. This means that music is a very powerful soul-tool, for good or for ill,…
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The Ark that Didn’t Take Up Space
Why did the Aron Hakodesh (The holy ark) in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) have no measurment or no space what so ever? What was the reason for that? Answer: Hi! The Aron haKodesh had no measurement because it was not a…
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The Divine Presence Among the Jewish People
I heard that the Divine Presence completely lifted from the Jewish people after they crossed the Jordon. Did it leave gradually? Did Moshe Rabbeinu (Our teacher Moses) impact this? Answer: Hi! Thanks for your really interesting question. If you’re asking…
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Why the Temples were Destroyed
Why were the Temples destroyed? Answer: G-d caused both Temples to be destroyed because of our sins. The Talmud tells us that a particular reason for the destruction of the Second Temple was baseless hatred of Jews by their fellow-Jews.
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Visiting the Western Wall
I am Oleh Chadash (new immigrant to Israel) and am going to visit Jerusalem and the Kotel (the Western Wall). I have a standard Sephardic prayerbook and a Tehillim (Book of Psalms) – what are the prayers that should be…