Editing The Third Temple

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The Third Beis Hamikdash is the Temple that will be built in the Messianic era, as part of the actions of the King Moshiach for the redemption of Israel and the rectification of the world, the restoration of the Davidic dynasty, and the complete reinstatement of Torah laws and mitzvos. The anticipation for the building of the Third Beis Hamikdash has been a central foundation in the life of the Jewish people since the destruction of the Second Temple throughout the entire exile period.
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In certain details, this Temple will resemble the previous Temples in its form, the First and Second, but there will be many changes in accordance with the prophecy given to Yechezkel, parts of which remain concealed and will only be revealed with the coming of Moshiach. Additionally, there will be various halachic changes.

Unlike the previous Temples, this one will be eternal. Its eternality stems from the level of spiritual light that will shine within it, which is much higher than that of the previous Temples.

== Building the Temple ==
Two opinions were stated regarding the building of the Third Temple, by whom it will be built:

According to one opinion - the Third Beis Hamikdash will be built by the Holy One, Blessed be He, Himself, and in Rashi's words: "The future Temple that we anticipate is already built and perfected, it will be revealed and will come from heaven, as it is said 'The Temple of Hashem, established by Your hands.'" For this reason, the Third Beis Hamikdash will not be destroyed, because it is the handiwork of Hashem, unlike the previous Temples which were the handiwork of man.

According to the second opinion - the Third Beis Hamikdash will be built by the Jewish people under the leadership of the King Moshiach. The Rambam ruled according to this opinion in halacha.

The Rebbe addressed this dispute several times and presented several possibilities to reconcile the opinions:

* According to the words of Chazal on the verse "Her gates sank into the ground," that during the destruction, the Temple doors sank into the ground - it is possible that the entire Temple will indeed descend from heaven, but the Jewish people under Moshiach's leadership will set up its doors, and setting up doors in a house is considered according to halacha as an act of acquisition to merit the entire house.
* According to Chazal's reconciliation of contradictory prophecies regarding redemption, there is a simple form of redemption if Israel is not worthy ("Lo zachu"), but if they are worthy ("Zachu"), the form of redemption will be more elevated and miraculous - similarly in our case, in a state of "Lo zachu" the Temple will be built by human hands, and in a state of "Zachu" it will be revealed from heaven.

In our time, the Rebbe announced that we have merited this form of redemption, and therefore without doubt the Temple will descend built and perfected from heaven. At the conclusion of the sicha, the Rebbe says that certainly the Jewish people will build the Beis Hamikdash, but in a state of "Zachu," the Temple from above will afterward be clothed in the Temple below, as per the following reconciliation.

* The Temple will be built by Israel under Moshiach's leadership, since building the Temple is a halachic obligation incumbent upon Israel; but in addition to Israel's physical building as required by halacha, the Temple that descends from above will also "clothe" itself within the physical Temple.
* According to the Rambam's words that in Yechezkel's prophecy about the building of the Third Temple there are explicit parts and parts that are not clear - Israel under Moshiach's leadership will build the known parts, and the unknown parts will be completed by Heaven.

The Rebbe also explained the reasons for both opinions according to the inner dimensions of Torah.

Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, in his conversation with the Rebbe, noted that we prefer the possibility that it will come from above, since that is faster...

In Kuntres Beis Rabbeinu SheBavel, the Rebbe writes that the Beis Hamikdash will first be revealed from heaven in Beis Rabbeinu SheBavel - 770, and only afterward will it move to Jerusalem.

== Time of Construction ==

==== In Relation to the Coming of the Moshiach ====
In the Gemara it states that the King Moshiach will only arrive after the building of the Beis Hamikdash. This is how the Gemara interprets the verse: "Afterward the children of Israel shall return," meaning after they build the Beis Hamikdash, "and seek... David their king."

However, the Rambam ruled as halacha that the King Moshiach will build the Beis Hamikdash, meaning that the restoration of the Davidic kingdom precedes the building of the Beis Hamikdash.

In his holy letter, the Rebbe Rashab extensively proves that the building of the Beis Hamikdash and the ingathering of the exiles will be done by Moshiach, and the sources that speak of the coming of Moshiach after the building of the Temple or ingathering of exiles are referring to his final and complete revelation, which will only occur after the completion of his activities. The Rebbe Rashab precisely distinguishes that Moshiach is sometimes called "son of David" and sometimes "David" - at the beginning of his coming he is called "son of David," and after completing his actions he is called "David." Therefore, in the expressions of our Sages that postpone the coming of Moshiach, it says "once Jerusalem is built, '''David''' comes," referring to his complete revelation.

==== In Relation to the Ingathering of Exiles ====
Expanded topic – '''Ingathering of Exiles'''

The Sages disagreed about the exact timing of the building of the Third Beis Hamikdash: some say it will be before the ingathering of exiles, and others say it will be afterward.

According to the Midrash: "It is a traditional legend that Jerusalem will not be built until the exiles are gathered... as it says: 'The Lord builds Jerusalem, He gathers the dispersed of Israel.'" This view is somewhat supported in the Gemara in Tractate Megillah, which explains the order of blessings in the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, where the prayer 'Sound the great shofar' concerning the ingathering of exiles precedes the prayer 'And to Jerusalem Your city' concerning the building of the Temple.

On the other hand, in the Zohar, our Sages interpreted that the building of the Temple will precede the ingathering of exiles. The verse "The Lord builds Jerusalem, He gathers the dispersed of Israel" is interpreted there in its sequential order, meaning first "The Lord builds Jerusalem," and only afterward "He gathers the dispersed of Israel." This view is implied in the Gemara in Tractate Sukkah, which discusses Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's ordinance not to eat new grain on the 16th of Nissan, lest the Temple be built the day before on the 15th. Also in Tractate Berachot, Rashi explains the Gemara's words according to this approach.

As halacha, the Rambam ruled in the Laws of Kings: "The King Moshiach... builds the Temple and gathers the dispersed of Israel," "A king will arise from the house of David... and he will build the Temple in its place and gather the dispersed of Israel." According to the Rambam's principles, one can learn halachot even from the order of his words, and therefore according to the Rambam, first the Beis Hamikdash will be built and only afterward will he gather the dispersed of Israel. This ruling was also established by the Rebbe Rashab in his holy letter, where he establishes the approach that building the Temple precedes the ingathering of exiles according to Chassidic teachings. According to this explanation in Chassidut, the building of the Third Beis Hamikdash is the essence of the redemption, and it will include within it all the virtues of the promises of redemption, which will be revealed afterward each in its time - the ingathering of exiles and the completeness in the resurrection of the dead.

The Rebbe discussed this question several times. Sometimes he tends to rule like the view that building the Temple comes first, sometimes he brings that the ruling will be decided by the earthly court, and sometimes he raises the possibility that the Rambam's ruling is only what is necessary according to halacha, but in case Israel merits, the order will be that first there will be the ingathering of exiles and only afterward will the Temple be built, in complete perfection.

The Rebbe brings another possibility to reconcile the different approaches, that since there are many levels in the building of Jerusalem and the ingathering of exiles, one above the other, both orders can exist - after the exiles are gathered there will be an elevation in the Temple that was built before it, and after that an elevation in the ingathering of exiles, and so on in elevation after elevation.

== The Innovations That Will Be Added [to the Third Beis Hamikdash] ==
In the Book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel prophesizes about the Third Temple, and in this prophecy it is explained that the Temple will be different in its form from the previous Temples. Understanding these verses in the Book of Ezekiel is very difficult, such that a large portion of commentators indeed disagree about exactly how the Third Temple will look.

'''Pilgrimage:''' People will ascend to it every Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh (unlike the previous Temples, to which they ascended only three times a year) as it is said: "And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, all flesh shall come to bow down before Me, says Hashem."

'''Building Materials:''' Part of its construction will be made of iron (unlike the previous Temples where the use of iron in building the Temple was forbidden), since in the future iron will no longer be an instrument of destruction, after the fulfillment of the prophecy "they shall beat their swords into plowshares." Therefore, the iron will only symbolize the strength and eternity of the Third Temple.

'''Building Additions:''' All synagogues in the future will be connected to the Third Temple. In the Gemara, this was learned through a kal vachomer (logical inference) from the fact that at the time of the giving of the Torah, certain mountains came in order to receive the Torah upon themselves. All the more so at the future giving of the Torah—"a new Torah shall come forth from Me"—all synagogues will come and connect to the Temple.

'''Size:''' The size of the courtyards as well as the area of the Temple Mount encircling the Temple will greatly increase: about one and a half kilometers in length and width around the Temple Mount compared to 250 meters in the Second Temple (36 times larger!), and about 162 by 164 meters for the Women's Courtyard compared to about 67 meters in the Second Temple. Many commentators explain that each of the wells that Yitzchak dug alludes to each of the Temples, and the reason for calling the third well "Rechovot" is because of the expansiveness of dimensions that will be in the Third Temple compared to its predecessors.

'''Changes in Surrounding Structures:''' In the Third Temple, the Women's Courtyard surrounds the Inner Courtyard (the Israelite and Priests' Courtyard where the altar is located, among other things) instead of being an additional courtyard to its east with the Nicanor Gate connecting them—as was in the Second Temple. In the Third Temple, there will be 3 gates connecting these 2 courtyards: from the east, north, and south, and opposite them parallel gates in the wall of the Women's Courtyard leading to the Temple Mount courtyard. Additionally, the Sanctuary itself is located '''outside''' the Inner Courtyard, forming part of the western wall, while the "body" of the Sanctuary is in the Women's Courtyard. Also, the place for slaughtering the most holy sacrifices as well as cooking the meat of sin and guilt offerings eaten by the priests changes location to inside the northern gate between the Inner Courtyard and the Women's Courtyard.

== Our Actions and Service ==
Hashem wants the Temple to be built through our actions and service, both the gates that the Jewish people will build, and the "small sanctuary" (synagogues), since it is the nature of goodness to do good. The building of the Temple is accomplished through the Torah study of young children, especially regarding the laws of the Chosen House (Temple) - through studying the form of the Temple, since the perfection of the Temple will be revealed and come from Heaven.

Building new houses, and strengthening Torah, prayer, and acts of kindness in existing houses.

Through Jewish children making their rooms into a small sanctuary.

Through the inner sanctuary, "and I will dwell among them," the Third Chosen House will be established.

Our actions toward redemption and the Third Temple are the study of Torah, since Torah is connected with the number three - "triplicate," and service connected with the number three [Kingship, Remembrances, Shofar blasts].

== Tasting, Glimpse, and Beginning ==
Even now, the existence of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) remains in physical reality though concealed, therefore it is easier to draw it down into physicality.

It is already built, we only need to bring it down, this is our work in the seventh generation.

A semblance of the Beit HaMikdash which is in Jerusalem, 770=Beit Moshiach, the house of our Rebbe in Babylon.

One should taste of the matters of Geulah (Redemption), first and foremost through studying these subjects.

== Further Reading ==

* '''And he will build a sanctuary in its place''', a discussion on the halachic details related to building the Third Beit HaMikdash, in the 'Heichal Lubavitch' journal issue 4, 11 Nissan 5783, page 83

== External Links ==

* The Third Beit HaMikdash - The form of the House from Ezekiel's prophecy, published by World Atah, 5774
* Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, The Future Temple According to Halacha on Daat website
* Rabbi Shalom Ber Wolf, The Structure of the Gates of the Third Temple
* Rabbi Yehuda Weisglass, '''Things Explicitly Stated in Ezekiel''' - A series of articles on Ezekiel's prophecy about the Third Temple, in HaTamim (Beit Moshiach), issue 46, p. 96 '''•''' issue 47, p. 42
* 'Leshichno Tidreshu' Institute - Information, pictures and books about the Third Beit HaMikdash, Leshichno Tidreshu
* All articles on the topic of Geulah and Moshiach on the Geulah website
* Cement and Blocks, or Prayers and Anticipation: How to Build the Third Beit HaMikdash? on the Geulah website
* Ascending to the Beit HaMikdash, The Guide on the Geulah website
* Innovations in the Third Beit HaMikdash on the Geulah website
* Mark Your Calendars: This is When the Third Beit HaMikdash Will Be Built on the Geulah website
* Which Temple service are Kohanim permitted to perform only once in their lifetime? on the Geulah website
* Introducing: This is How the Third Beit HaMikdash Will Look on the Geulah website
* The Temple Employment Office: The Complete Requirements Revealed on the Geulah website
* Nicanor Gates on the Geulah website
* The Fire of All of Us Will Soon Be Kindled on the Geulah website
* Why Don't We Offer Sacrifices Today? on the Geulah website
* The Stone From Which Everything Began... on the Geulah website
* Arafat's Picture of the Beit HaMikdash on the Geulah website
* Without Leaving Home: How to Actively Participate in Building the Temple on the Geulah website
* The Holiest Place: A Glimpse into the Holy of Holies on the Geulah website
* Prepare for the Descent of the Beit HaMikdash in Brooklyn on the Geulah website
* Jewish Pride • The Picture of the Temple in its Place That Has Stirred Controversy for Over 25 Years on the Geulah website

==== Articles on the Website ====

* '''The Third Beit HaMikdash''' Founded on the First Temple
* '''Between the Second and Third Temple'''
* '''The Greatness of the Third Temple'''
* '''<nowiki/>'New' in the Geulah'''
* '''Temple from Heaven or by Human Hands'''
* '''Revelation of Moshiach and Building of the Temple. Which Comes First?'''
* '''How Long Will the Dedication of the Third Temple Last?'''
* '''The Non-Absolute Part in the Dedication of the Third Temple'''
* '''A Flight of Holy Structures'''
* '''Iron as a Main Component in the Temple'''
* '''Entrance Ticket to the Holy of Holies'''
* '''The First Days of the Third Temple'''
* '''Division of Service in the Third Temple'''
* '''Times for Ascending to the Beit HaMikdash'''
* '''<nowiki/>'Korban Tamid' One or Two?'''
* '''Will the Sacrifices Be Abolished in the Future?'''
* '''A New Purpose in Offering Sacrifices'''