Tishrei Newsletter 5785

12 precious stones stand on the breastplate of the High Priest, what makes them the center of the work in the Temple? And how does the High Priest, the spiritual leader “prophesy” through them to the people of Israel?

All this and much more in the video>>

Global interest in the Temple Mount is not coincidental. Beyond being a sensitive religious and political site, the Temple Mount represents the heart of future redemption.
Why is the Temple Mount causing such great interest around the world? Why are there headlines around the world every time Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir visits the Temple Mount?

According to Jewish tradition, the Temple Mount is the center of Creation. Just as the world was created from the Foundation Stone in the Temple Mount, so the future redemption will spread from there to the entire world. Jerusalem is not just the capital of Israel but is intended to be the spiritual capital of all of humanity.

The recent increase in the number of Jews ascending to the Temple Mount symbolizes progress in the redemption process. Every step on the Temple Mount is seen as part of the fulfillment of the prophecies about the end of days, when "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3).

Subsequently, every event on the Temple Mount draws global attention. This is not just a matter of politics or religion in the narrow sense, but a step in a cosmic process of Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World). Global interest reflects, perhaps subconsciously, the universal expectation of redemption that will come from Jerusalem.

Our role, as the nation of Israel, is to wisely and responsibly lead this process, while maintaining the sanctity of the site and respecting all religions. In this way, we fulfill our destiny as “Light unto the Nations" and advance complete redemption, which will bring peace and unity to the entire world.

According to Sages, we learn in several places that Man was created from the soil of the altar on Mount Moriah. For example, in Jerusalem Talmud, the creation of human described in figurative language: "the Holy One, praise to Him, took a spoonful from the place of the altar and created Adam from it.."

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 16:5 explains “To dress and to preserve” – these are the offerings, for which was said (Exodus 3:12) “ye shall serve God”, (in Numbers 28:2) “shall ye observe to offer unto Me”

On that day Adam sinned by eating from the Tree of Knowledge, and on that day, he was judged for his sin and punished. On the second day of his creation, he builds an altar at the site where he was created and stands and offers a sacrifice on it as atonement for his sin. The day Man was created, therefore, is not a meaningless date but bound with personal accounting. For Man is assigned a role and a mission in Creation, and in any case he must give an account before his G-d for his actions in order to justify his existence.

As flesh and blood made of dirt from the earth, Man may also fail in the mission assigned to him. In any case, sin and repentance are part of human reality. For where there is Man, there is also the place for failure in sin. Because of this, G-d prepared a refuge and remedy for his affliction, by creating him from the soil of the Temple. The creation of Man from the dust of the altar - which is the site of repentance before God, the place of atonement - contains a teaching regarding the ability of a human being to appear before his G-d, to confess his sin to him, to plead for forgiveness, to please him in the sacrifice, and thus to atone.

We learn that the creation of the first man and his repentance are necessarily connected to Jerusalem and the Temple. This is one of the reasons for establishing "Rosh Hashanah" at the beginning of the month of Tishrei - the day of the creation of the world - as the day of judgment. The first Adam guided humanity in the whole process of repentance, thus laying the foundation for the establishment of a Temple on Mount Moriah.

(Rabbi Israel Ariel)

" When you look upon the world, you are looking at

its Creator”

 (Baal Shem Tov)