Temple Institute facts for kids
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| Established | 1987 |
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| Location | Jerusalem |
The Temple Institute, also called Machon HaMikdash in Hebrew (Hebrew: מכון המקדש), is an organization in Israel. It works to prepare for a future Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.
The group's main goal is to help build a Third Temple on the Temple Mount. This is a holy site in Jerusalem where the Dome of the Rock stands today. They also want to bring back ancient religious practices that were part of the Temple service.
To do this, the Temple Institute studies how the Temple was built and how its services were performed. They also create special items, clothing, and plans needed for the Temple. They have a museum in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Rabbi Yisrael Ariel started the institute and leads it.
What the Temple Institute Does
The Temple Institute works hard to get ready for a future Temple. They create many of the special items that would be used there.
Making Temple Items
The Temple Institute has made more than ninety special items needed for the Temple. These are called "ritual objects."
One big project is making the holy clothes for the Kohen Gadol, who was the High Priest, and for the regular priests. This project has taken many years of study and research. They have finished the High Priest's Hoshen (breastplate) and Ephod (a special apron). The Tzitz, which is the High Priest's golden crown, was finished in 2007. The institute is also designing clothes for the other priests.
The Red Heifer
The institute has also searched for a very special animal called a parah adumah (a red heifer). This red heifer is needed for a purification ceremony. This ceremony is important for people to be pure enough to enter the Temple's holiest areas.
In the past, the institute found two red heifers, one in 1997 and another in 2002. However, they later found that these heifers were not perfect enough. More recently, in September 2022, five perfect red heifers were brought to Israel from the USA. Rabbis checked them and found that they met all the requirements. These heifers will be cared for until they can be used for the purification ceremony.
See also
- Modern attempts to revive the Sanhedrin
