The Blogs: The Path to Building the Third Temple

In Parshat Pekudei (40:17) we read about the Mishkan being set up:

It was in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the Mishkan was set up.

In Shmot Raba 52:4, we learn that when the Mishkan was set up, it rose up miraculously. Regarding the First Temple as well, it was built of its own accord.

Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Rabbi Yossi: When Shlomo built the Temple, everyone was helping him, including both man and spirits as it says in Melachim I 6:7: “When the House was being built (behibanoto). It was built of complete quarried stone; hammers, chisels or any iron utensils were not heard in the House while it was being built (behibanoto).”

The word “behibanoto,” while it was being built, can also be reflexive- while it was building itself.

According to the Zohar, it was a combination of the work of man and the work of God. Once the craftsmen started working, the work was completed by itself as it says (Shmot 39:32): “Thus was completed all the work of the Mishkan of the Tent of Metting (Ohel Moed)…” The same was true for the building of the Temple as well.

When we begin the process, then God will complete the job.

Rav David Avraham Spector points out, based on the teachings of the Vilna Gaon that the same concept is true for settling the Land of Israel. In Tehillim 76:3 we read: His Sukka is in Shalem, His dwelling place is in Zion.” Just as building a Sukka takes effort, building up Zion also takes effort. Building up the Land of Israel takes effort just like the building of the Mishkan.

Building Israel is composed of three parts (Ramban, Addendum 4 to Sefer HaMitzvot):

1.We must conquer the Land- Milchemet Mitzvah (an obligatory war).

We will not leave the Land in the hands of our enemies, rather it will be run by a Jewish government.
We will not abandon the Land- we will settle it.

When the Jewish nation makes the effort, we will receive the blessing of the Divine Presence dwelling amongst us.

May we continue to settle, defend and build up the Land of Israel which will ultimately lead to the building of the Third Temple.