Temple Institute facts for kids
| מכון המקדש | |
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| Established | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Location | Jerusalem |
| Founder | Rav Yisroel Ariel |
The Temple Institute, known in Hebrew as Machon HaMikdash, is an organization located in Israel. Its main goal is to prepare for and help build the Third Temple in Jerusalem. This future Temple would be located on the Temple Mount, where the Dome of the Rock stands today. The Institute also aims to bring back the ancient Jewish rituals and offerings, called korbanot, which are described in the Hebrew Bible and Jewish law (known as Halakha).
To achieve these goals, the Temple Institute studies how the previous Temples were built and how their rituals were performed. They also create special objects, clothing, and building plans that could be used right away if the Temple is rebuilt. The organization runs a museum in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It was started by and is led by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel. The current director is Dovid Shvartz. The Institute has received support from people like New York billionaire Henry Swieca and also from the Israeli government.
Contents
What the Temple Institute Does
Preparing Temple Items
The Temple Institute works on making special items needed for the Temple. They have already created many of the more than ninety items that would be used in the Temple. This is part of their ongoing effort to get ready for a future rebuilt Temple.
Priestly Garments
A big project for the Institute has been making the holy clothes for the Kohen Gadol (the High Priest) and the regular priests. This project involved many years of study and research. The High Priest's Hoshen (breastplate) and Ephod have been finished. The Tzitz, which is the High Priest's golden crown, was completed in 2007. The Temple Institute is also designing clothes for the regular priests, which are meant to be bought by Kohanim (people from the priestly family).
Musical Instruments
Silver trumpets, which would be used on the Temple Mount, have also been made by the Institute.
The Red Heifer Project
The Institute has also tried to find a special animal called a parah adumah, or red heifer. This red heifer must meet very specific requirements found in the Book of Numbers (chapter 19) and in a Jewish text called Mishnah Tractate Parah. The ashes of a red heifer are needed for a special purification process called taharah. This purification is necessary for most people to enter the Temple's holiest areas.
In the past, the Institute found two possible red heifers, one in 1997 and another in 2002. Both were initially thought to be suitable, but later they were found not to meet all the strict requirements. More recently, in September 2022, five perfect red heifers were brought to Israel from the USA. After being checked by rabbis, these heifers were found to meet all the qualifications. These heifers are being cared for until they can be used to create the ashes needed for purification.
See also
In Spanish: Instituto del Templo para niños
- HaLiba
- Modern attempts to revive the Sanhedrin
- Temple Mount Administration
