The Third Temple

The Third Temple is the temple that will be built in the Messianic era, as part of the Messiah's actions for Israel's redemption and world rectification, restoring the Kingdom of David and fully reinstating Torah laws and commandments. The anticipation for building the Third Temple has been a central foundation in Jewish life since the destruction of the Second Temple throughout the exile period.

Construction Details

In certain aspects, this temple will resemble the previous temples, the First and Second, but will have many changes according to Ezekiel's prophecy, some of whose exact details remain unknown and will only be revealed with the coming of the Messiah. There will also 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.

Construction Method

Two opinions were stated regarding who will build the Third Temple:

One opinion - the Third Temple will be built by the Holy One Blessed Be He Himself, and in Rashi's words: "The future temple that we await is already built and perfected, it will be revealed and come from heaven, as it is said 'The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands established'". For this reason, the Third Temple will not be destroyed, because it is God's handiwork, unlike the previous temples which were made by human hands.

Second opinion - the Third Temple will be built by the Jewish people under the leadership of the Messiah King. The Rambam ruled according to this opinion in halacha.

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

In Relation to the Messiah's Coming

The Talmud states that the Messiah King comes only after the Temple's construction. However, the Rambam ruled that the Messiah will build the Temple, meaning the restoration of David's kingdom precedes the Temple's construction.

In Relation to the Ingathering of Exiles

Scholars disagreed about the exact timing of the Third Temple's construction: some say it will be before the ingathering of exiles, others say after.

The Rambam ruled that first the Temple will be built and only then will the exiles be gathered. According to Chassidic explanation, the Third Temple's construction is the main aspect of redemption, and it will contain all the qualities of redemption's destinies.

New Features

According to Ezekiel's prophecy about the Third Temple, its structure will differ from the previous temples. Understanding these verses in Ezekiel is very difficult, so many commentators disagree on exactly how the Third Temple will look.

Pilgrimage: People will ascend every Sabbath and new month (unlike previous temples which required pilgrimage only three times a year) as stated: "And it shall be that from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says the Lord."

Building Materials: Part of its construction will use iron (unlike previous temples where iron use was forbidden in building), since in the future iron will no longer be a destructive tool, after fulfilling the prophecy of beating swords into plowshares. Therefore, iron will only symbolize the Third Temple's strength and eternality.

Building Additions: All synagogues in the future will be connected to the Third Temple. The Talmud derived this through a logical deduction from how certain mountains came to receive the Torah at Sinai.

Size: The courtyards and Temple Mount's enclosed area will greatly increase: about 1.5 kilometers 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 Court compared to about 67 meters in the Second Temple.

Structural Changes: In the Third Temple, the Women's Court will surround the inner courtyard instead of being an additional eastern courtyard. There will be 3 gates connecting these courtyards: from east, north and south, with corresponding gates in the Women's Court wall leading to the Temple Mount courtyard.

Our Actions and Service

God wants the Temple to be built through our actions and service. The building of the Temple is accomplished through children's Torah study, particularly the laws of the Chosen House - studying the Temple's form, since the Temple's perfection will be revealed and come from heaven.

This includes building new houses and strengthening Torah, prayer and kindness in existing houses. Through Jewish children making their rooms a small sanctuary, through the inner sanctuary - "I will dwell within them" - the Third Temple will be established.

Our actions toward redemption and the Third Temple involve Torah study, since Torah is connected with the number three, and service connected with the number three [Kingships, Remembrances, Shofar blasts].

Current Reality and Beginning

The Tabernacle's existence continues even now physically in concealment, therefore it is easier to bring it into physical reality.

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

770 (Chabad World Headquarters) Beis Moshiach, is like a model of the Temple in Jerusalem, the House of Our Rabbi in Babylon.

One should taste aspects of redemption, first and foremost through studying these matters.

Building Location

Many commentators explain that each of the wells that Isaac dug alludes to each of the Temples, and the reason for calling the third well "Rechovot" (wide spaces) is because of the wide dimensions that will be in the Third Temple compared to its predecessors.

The sanctuary itself will be located outside the inner courtyard, forming part of the western wall, while the "body" of the sanctuary will be in the Women's Court. The place for slaughtering the holiest sacrifices and cooking the sin and guilt offerings eaten by the priests will also change location to within the northern gate between the inner courtyard and Women's Court.

Divine Purpose

The Holy One Blessed Be He wants the Temple to be built through our actions and service, both the gates that the Jewish people will build and the "mini sanctuary," since it is the nature of good to do good. The building of the Temple is accomplished through children's Torah study, particularly studying the laws of the Chosen House and the Temple's form, since the Temple's perfection will be revealed and come from heaven.

This includes strengthening Torah study, prayer, and acts of kindness in existing buildings, and through Jewish children making their rooms a small sanctuary. Through the inner sanctuary - the concept of "I will dwell within them" - the Third Temple will be established.

The existence of this reality is already present now in a concealed form, which makes it easier to bring it into physical manifestation. It is already built and only needs to be brought down - this is the work of our seventh generation.