Chag Sameach - Happy Holiday!

The seventh day following Israel's midnight exodus from Egypt found the newborn nation stuck between a rock and a hard place, or more precisely, between a hotly pursuing Egyptian army behind them, and an impassable Sea of Reeds -Yam Suf - before them. It was faith in HaShem that gave the Hebrew slaves the courage to slaughter their Passover lambs, dab the blood of their offerings on their doorposts and perform the first Passover Seder in history, but now what? Has it all been for naught? Is this how it's going to end even before it has truly begun? Israel was frightened and confused, and in their confusion they became divided. Midrash tells us that four schools of thought quickly formed. One school said let's raise our hands and surrender and allow ourselves to be brought back to slavery. After all, enslavement is better than certain death. One school said let us raise arms and fight! Even though the odds are overwhelmingly against us, we will at least go down with dignity. Another school said let us run into the sea - better to take our own lives than to be slaughtered by the Egyptians. And a fourth school said let us pray to HaShem for salvation. One thing everyone agreed on was desperation, which could be heard in their cry to Moshe: "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert? What is this that you have done to us to take us out of Egypt?" (Exodus 14:11) No one expected to see tomorrow. Moshe responded, attempting to strengthen the people and give them hope: "Don't be afraid! Stand firm and see HaShem's salvation that He will wreak for you today, for the way you have seen the Egyptians is only today, but you shall no longer continue to see them for eternity. HaShem will fight for you, but you shall remain silent." (ibid 14:13-14) Everyone seemed to know what awaited them, but no one had a plan.

And then HaShem spoke: "Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel. And you raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and split it, and the children of Israel shall come in the midst of the sea on dry land." (ibid 14:15-16) Again, according to Midrash, one man, Nachshon, from the tribe of Yehudah, heard and understood G-d's words. He alone plunged into the sea and when the waters reached his nostrils and his life seemed all but ended, it happened! The Sea of Reeds split and Israel marched to safety and freedom on dry land. The Egyptian army, pursuing in full force was drowned by the rush of the returning waters.

What vital lessons did Israel learn that day? Never despair. Never lose faith in HaShem. Never stand still. Prayer is an essential channel through which we communicate with HaShem, but prayer can never replace action. As individuals and as a nation we must always be active, on the move, pressing on ahead. We are G-d's children, we are G-d's servants, but we are also G-d's partners. When Nachshon stepped into the sea he wasn't just calling upon his fellow Israelites to follow, he was also calling upon G-d to lead the way. When G-d witnesses our faith and our determination, He will divide waters, flatten mountains, divert rivers, in short do anything and everything necessary to guarantee that we will indeed see tomorrow and that tomorrow will be brighter and better than today.

The Sea of Reeds was the first, but surely not the last great challenge faced by Israel. Today Israel faces challenges perhaps even greater than that faced by our forefathers at the Sea of Reeds. Today, not one nation but the entire world seems to be pursuing Israel, seeking her demise. Today the desire is not to enslave Israel but to annihilate her. Today it is not the sea that stands before Israel blocking the way forward, but a constant stream of diplomatic and military stumbling blocks being constantly thrown our way. But two things have only grown stronger since that fearful day at the Sea: Israel's faith in HaShem and our determination to act, to move forward, to leap into the sea, or the minefield, or tunnel-filled Gaza, or missile rich Hezbollah or the nuclear facilities of the evil Iranian puppet masters, in order to do what needs to be done and to know that HaShem, just as He divided the Sea of Reeds, will clear a path to our success and to our future.

Now is the time for all Israel, and for all who love and support Israel and the G-d of Israel to stand with Israel and to keep your ears and eyes open to witness the signs and wonders that are accompanying Israel every step of the way as Israel moves forward to a better tomorrow for Israel and for all the world. Courage and conviction and faith in HaShem keep us moving on the path. We are taught in the Passover Haggadah to see ourselves, and not just our ancestors, as having been redeemed from Egypt, and it has never felt more real than today.

"But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the water was to them like a wall from their right and from their left. On that day HaShem saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dying on the seashore. And Israel saw the great hand, which HaShem had used upon the Egyptians, and the people feared HaShem, and they believed in HaShem and in Moshe, His servant." (ibid 14:29:31)

Tonight, Chag Shevi'i shel Pesach - the Seventh Day of Passover - we will relive and celebrate that moment. And tomorrow we will rejoice on safe and certain shores, basking in the loving embrace of HaShem. Chag Sameach - Happy Holiday!

G-D'S PROMISE TO TEMPLE PILGRIMS: "IF YOU COME TO MY HOUSE, I WILL COME TO YOUR HOUSE!"

In just over a week Pesach (Passover) will be upon us, one of the three pilgrimage festivals established by Torah. One of the purposes for which the Holy Temple was built was for the three yearly pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Maimonides (Beit HaBechira 1:1) writes: “It is a positive Torah commandment to build a house for G-d for the purpose of bringing offerings, and for celebrating there three times a year.” The commandment of Aliya L’regel - making the pilgrimage - unites the people of Israel around the Holy Temple, and distinguishes it as the nation that fulfills its mission as a “kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).

Imagine the scene of Aliya L’regel: The people of an entire nation leave their homes, and make their way through the hills and plains to Jerusalem; entire villages and towns empty out of their inhabitants. This is why the Torah makes sure to promise us that our property will be protected by the Creator of the World and Master of the Universe: “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Master, the G-d of Israel... and no one will covet your land when you ascend to see Hashem your G-d three times a year” (Exodus 34:23). G-d is described here as the “Master,” teaching us that there is a Master over the Land of Israel guarding and protecting it when Israel ascends to Jerusalem.

The Midrash teaches:

“No man will covet your land” – The Torah here addresses itself to man’s evil inclination: Israel should not say, “How can we leave behind our land, our homes, our fields and orchards and ascend to Jerusalem? Perhaps others will come and take everything!” G-d therefore gives His guarantee that this will not occur, nor will other forms of harm befall their property. There was once a Jew who left his produce to go up to Jerusalem, and when he returned, he found lions protecting it! This is in fulfillment of “No man will covet your land.” (Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Exodus 34:24)

Similarly, those pilgrims who came with their entire families, including children, women, and elderly, were promised that they would complete the trip safely and without harm. The Talmud (Pesachim 8b) teaches: “Those who are sent to perform a mitzvah are not harmed, neither when they go nor when they return [as is written:] No man will covet your land, teaching that your cow will graze in the meadow and no wild beast will hurt it; your fowl will go scratching in the dungheap and no weasel will injure it. And if these will suffer no harm, though it is their nature to be hurt, how much more so for human beings, for whom it is not natural to be hurt!”

Hillel the Elder viewed this as compensation from G-d to the pilgrims, and would say (Avot DeRabbi Natan 12): “If you come to My house, I will come to your house – This refers to those who leave their silver and gold and go to Jerusalem to greet the Divine Presence in the Divine Temple; G-d watches over them in their camps, as is written, “No man will covet your land.”

Making the pilgrimage to the Holy Temple in modern times will be much easier due to modern transportation and new technological developments. More than ever, it will soon be possible for everyone to reach Jerusalem easily and quickly, find spacious lodgings, and observe the festival joy in sanctity and purity in rebuilt Yerushalayim!

Rebuilding the Holy Temple and once again making the pilgrimage festivals to Jerusalem is a 2,000 year old dream. It is a dream that we share with the Creator, and if we do all we can to make the dream a reality, HaShem will see to it that our shared dream comes true. We at the Temple Institute work day and night to spread the excitement and promise of the Holy Temple, and leave no stone unturned in making preparations for the longed for day. Join us! Be a part of the excitement! Be a part of prophecy! Support the work of the Temple Institute!

THE TEN CROWNS OF THE MONTH OF NISAN!

The month of Adar is a magical month topped off with the Purim celebration on the 14th and 15th, the reading of the four special Torah readings of Shkolim, Zachor, Para and HaChodesh, the collecting of the half shekel offering, (not too late!) and the preparations to be made in anticipation of Passover. But we are just getting started! Monday evening begins the month of Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew year! The first day of Nisan was the day of the dedication of the desert Tabernacle, which we read about this Shabbat, (parashat Shemini), a day which earned Nisan ten crowns!

Crown #1: The dedication of the Tabernacle took place on the first day of the week!

Crown #2: The first of the twelve tribal leaders brought gifts and offerings to the Tabernacle!

Crown #3: the first day of Aharon's official service in the Tabernacle, beginning a priestly heritage that continues to this day!

Crown #4: The first day of the Tabernacle/Temple offerings!

Crown #5: The first time fire descends from heaven consuming the offerings placed upon the altar!

Crown #6: The first time that sacred foods were eaten by the kohanim in the Tabernacle!

Crown #7: The first time that the Divine Presence (Shechinah) rested amidst the people!

Crown #8: The first day the kohanim blessed the people with the priestly blessing!

Crown #9: The first day it became forbidden to perform offerings to HaShem outside of the Tabernacle/Temple!

Crown #10: It was the first month of the new year!

Nisan is known as the month of our ge'ula - the month of our redemption! Not just our redemption from Egypt on the 15th of Nisan, but our future redemption, may it be soon!

The verse from Psalms 96:11, "The heavens will rejoice and the earth will exult" is related to Nisan, as the first letters of each of the four Hebrew words in the verse spell out the ineffable name of HaShem!

The name Nisan is related to the Hebrew word nes - which means miracle. And no wonder - Nisan, the month of firsts, the month of ten crowns, the month of the exodus and the Passover festival and the pilgrimage of all Israel to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and the month of our past and future ge'ula, is truly a month of miracles! May we merit witnessing many miracles this Nisan. Many miracles and glad tidings!

Be part of the excitement -Support the work of the Temple Institute!

SILVER TRUMPETS FOR OUR HEROIC SOLDIERS!

Play A Part In Israel's War Against Evil!

"If you go to war in your land against an adversary that oppresses you, you shall blow a teruah with the trumpets and be remembered before HaShem your G-d, and thus be saved from your enemies." (Numbers 10:9)

Israel is at war with an enemy that sorely oppresses us with terror but our soldiers are filled with purpose and faith in HaShem, and firm in the knowledge that "it is Hashem, your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to deliver you!" (Deuteronomy 20:4)

Social media has been filled these past weeks with photos and videos of Israeli soldiers preparing for battle with prayer, with song, with reading from Torah and with sounding the shofar. We are witnessing with our own eyes that HaShem, indeed, is going with our troops "to battle your enemies for you to deliver you!"

It is a Torah commandment to prepare for battle by sounding silver trumpets, the same silver trumpets sounded by the kohanim in the Holy Temple, so that we should "be remembered before HaShem your G-d, and thus be saved from your enemies."

The Temple Institute has begun manufacturing silver trumpets to distribute to the IDF rabbis so that they can be sounded by our soldiers as they make their way to battle. Two trumpets are required to be sounded simultaneously, and each one needs to be produced from a single piece of silver. The cost of each trumpet is significant and every donation toward producing the trumpets will be gratefully accepted! We are calling upon friends of Israel around the world to play a true Torah role in Israel's war against today's Amalek, the villainous tribe who "happened upon you on the way and cut off all the stragglers at your rear, when you were faint and weary, and he did not fear G-d." (Deuteronomy 25:18)

I WANT TO HELP!

Please designate "vessels" in your donation!

LEVITICAL CHOIR PERFORMS AT THE SOUTHERN WALL OF THE TEMPLE MOUNT!

Last week, during the intermediate days of Sukkot, the Temple Institute's Levitical Choir joined dozens of other musical Levites in a festive performance of Psalm 27. The Temple Institute's Levitical Choir performers can be recognized by their Levitical uniforms, and, of course, the silver trumpets are those reproduced by the Temple Institute. The concert was a joint production of The Temple Institute, the East Jerusalem Development Company, the Municipality of Jerusalem, and others.

The performance took place on the steps leading up to the ancient Hulda Gates on the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount, the gates through which thousands of pilgrims once ascended from the City of David to the Holy Temple.

"One thing I ask of HaShem, that I seek - that I may dwell in the house of HaShem all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of HaShem and to visit His Temple all the days of my life."

TEMPLE TALK: ACHAREI MOT - THE FIRST YOM KIPPUR!

ALL THE NATIONS TURN THEIR BACKS ON ISRAEL - BUT NOT THE G-D OF ISRAEL!

SEFIRAT HAOMER - COUNTING UP TO SINAI!

No sooner have we concluded the seven days of Passover than Acharei Mot takes us to the first Yom Kippur in the wilderness. Meanwhile the people of Israel have begun counting the forty nine days of the Omer that link the exodus from Egypt to receiving Torah at Sinai. Israel is fighting an evil that threatens to swallow the whole world. Be sure to choose the right side in this battle!

Remember: Helping to make HaShem's dream of a Sanctuary in which His Presence can dwell amongst us, is the work of the Temple Institute! Join us in our efforts!

THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE: BRINGING THE HOLY TEMPLE TO LIFE!

"Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering..." (Ex. 25:2)

Thus begins Terumah, this week's Torah reading, in which HaShem reveals His desire that Israel "make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst." (Ex. 25:8)

The Temple Institute is dedicated to making the Holy Temple a reality in our day, and toward this end, the Temple Institute has, for 36 years, been building and planning and researching and teaching and sharing with you our reconstructed sacred vessels and priestly garments, our books and paintings, our red heifer candidates, our teachings and insights and our love for HaShem and the Holy Temple!

It is only through the generosity of your hearts that we are able to continue our important work. Only together can we build for HaShem a sanctuary and "a house of prayer for all nations!"

SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE!

INTRODUCING THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE'S LEVITICAL CHOIR ACADEMY

In yet another major step toward preparing for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service, the Temple Institute has established the Levitical Choir Academy, dedicated to teaching today's descendants of the tribe of Levi the Levitical songbook - the songs that are sung by the Levitical Choir in accompaniment to the Daily offerings and the Additional Festival offerings performed in the Holy Temple. Levi'im from all across Israel have already responded to the Temple Institute's initiative, and as these video clip show, are already honing their skills as a proper Levitical Choir. Levitical garments are currently being designed for the choir to be worn during their service in the rebuilt Holy Temple.

BLUE, PURPLE & CRIMSON: THE COLORS OF THE TABERNACLE!

In the book of Exodus we read of the building of the desert Tabernacle, the Sanctuary in which G-d will dwell amongst His people. We learn of the beautiful fabric dyed sky blue and royal purple and crimson red. We learn that the Israelites, inspired by G-d with wisdom, understanding and knowledge, produced these colors. But Torah doesn't reveal the secret, how? In our day these ancient, long forgotten arts and sciences have been rediscovered here in Israel. Enjoy this glimpse into the fascinating renaissance of biblical dye-making, filmed in the re-established town of Shiloh, at the site of the ancient Tabernacle.

JUDITH ABRAHAMS, THE MASTER WEAVER WHO WOVE THE HIGH PRIEST'S ROBE

Judith Abrahams is a master weaver who was commissioned by the Temple Institute to weave the me'il techelet - the all blue tunic of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), which can be seen at the Institute's Jerusalem exhibition. In this beautiful documentary, which was filmed by Graham and Ronit Humberstone in 2020, Judith shares her personal journey and enlightens us with her passion for weaving which has led her to study traditional Navajo weaving with the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, and then, employing the "chochmat lev - wisdom of the heart" (Exodus 35:25) that she accrued, to weave the High Priest's robe. Judith now sets her sights on weaving the Parochet, the massive curtain which separated the Temple Sanctuary (Kodesh) from the Kodesh HaKodeshim (the Holy of Holies). The Temple Institute thanks Graham and Ronit for allowing us to present their video on our YouTube channel, in order to share Judith's story with a wide audience. And, of course, great thanks and appreciation to Judith Abrahams, for blessing us with her talents and her inspiration.

"And all the skilled (chochmat lev) women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen. And all the women who excelled in that skill spun the goats’ hair." Exodus 35:25-26)

RED HEIFERS ARRIVE IN ISRAEL!

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality.

We invite you to join us in our worldwide effort to produce the longed-for ashes of the red heifer!