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"An altar of earth you shall make for Me"
(Exodus 20:21)
Shvat 19, 5779/January 25, 2019
Following Israel's extraordinary one heart, one voice paean to G-d at the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, it's only natural that G-d should reciprocate with the greatest gift He could bequeath to his beloved people: the gift of Torah. The love-fest of the giving and receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai remains unparalleled in the annals of human history. The people arrived at Sinai as one, as described by the verse, "Israel encamped there [Mount Sinai] opposite the mountain." (Exodus 19:2) The Hebrew word for encamped, vayichan, is written (ungrammatically) in the singular, emphasizing the unity which bonded the entire nation as one: one people, one heart. But why? Why were the people so upbeat?
Understandably, following Israel’s miraculous crossing of the Sea of Reeds Israel experienced an emotional high. But soon they were to discover that life in the desert was not going to be easy. Israel quickly despaired when faced with the threat of thirst and starvation, and despite G-d's providing of food and drink for them, Israel remained bitter and disgruntled, even expressing regret that they had ever left the "fleshpots" of Egypt. (ibid 15:3) Life in Egypt, under the thumb of Pharaoh, was miserable, but at least it was secure. Life in the desert was uncertain and terrifying. And despite Israel's ultimate victory over Amalek, his unexpected, unprovoked and undeserved attack must surely have disheartened the infant nation. Still licking their wounds, Israel arrived, at last, at Sinai, where they could enjoy a moment's respite from their travails. But the unity that Israel experienced upon arriving and encamping at Sinai was born from more than just a sense of relief. Israel's unity was born of a feeling of expectation, of anticipation.
But what were the children of Israel anticipating? G-d had not informed Moshe in advance of His intention to appear before and speak directly to the entire nation of Israel at Sinai, transmitting to them the word of Torah. What was the excitement about? What was Israel looking forward to? When G-d first revealed to Moshe His plan to deliver Israel from Egypt, He told Moshe to gather up the elders of Israel and to go to Pharaoh, telling Pharaoh, "HaShem, G-d of the Hebrews has happened upon us, and now, let us go for a three days' journey in the desert and make offerings to HaShem, our G-d." (ibid 3:18) This original planned rendezvous, later detailed as a three day festival in the desert during which Israel would make offerings to HaShem, was what first captured the imagination and the hearts of Israel, while they were still suffering under the burden of slavery. This planned three day outing is what sparked hope in the children of Israel and maintained their spirits throughout the ten plagues which G-d brought upon Egypt. With every new plague Moshe repeated G-d's message to Pharaoh: "Let My people go that they may serve Me." Every time that Pharaoh heard that message, the children of Israel also heard it. It kindled in them a long forgotten memory. Not a personal memory, but a national memory of a time when their forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov freely erected altars and made offerings to the G-d who had taken them under His protective wing. When Moshe instructed the people to prepare lambs for an offering, it wasn't out of nowhere. The desire to serve G-d, to reach up to G-d via the time honored tradition of presenting G-d with an offering of the heart, had reawakened in the people a long oppressed and dormant desire to draw close to G-d and to live life every day in the presence of G-d. When Israel arrived at last at the foot of Mount Sinai, she understood in her heart that the long awaited time had come. The long awaited "three days' journey in the desert," that is, three days of making offerings to HaShem, were about to commence. The three days which Moshe told in unmistakable detail in his final warning to Pharaoh, that "With our youth and with our elders we will go, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our cattle we will go, for it is a festival of HaShem to us," (ibid 10:9) were about to begin. The people were ready!
What Israel didn't anticipate, and couldn't have known, was that the "three days' journey" was going to be translated into three days of purification and preparation for the receiving of Torah. Knowing full well that the people's hearts were as one, open and ready, willing, and full with excitement, G-d told Moshe to open the holy convocation with these words: "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and I brought you to Me. And now, if you obey Me and keep My covenant, you shall be to Me a treasure out of all peoples, for Mine is the entire earth. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes and a holy nation," to which the nation joyfully responded in unison, saying, "All that HaShem has spoken we shall do!" (ibid 19:4-6,8)
And so immediately following the reading of the wedding vows, which, in reality, is what the giving of Torah at Sinai truly was, for it wed Israel and G-d together forever, G-d had one more surprise in store for Israel: "An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall slaughter beside it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. Wherever I allow My name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you." (ibid 20:21) Actually, not a surprise at all. The long awaited three day tryst with G-d that Israel had been anxiously anticipating since G-d first sent Moshe to Pharaoh with the message "Let My people go," was about to commence. The only difference being that Israel's three day rendezvous with G-d was not going to be for three days only. Israel's life with G-d would be forever!
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven share their understanding of the Sinai revelation, the pinnacle of human experience, ponder a man called Yitro, and the parashat named after Yitro: gifting the Torah to a G-d-centered world!
This week's dynamic edition of Temple Talk finds Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Chaim Richman preparing for the Torah reading of Yitro. Who was the man that became Moshe's father-in-law? How did he deserve that the all-important Torah portion featuring the giving of the Torah, should be named after him? What is the relevance of the Sinai Revelation today? Our hosts discuss these questions and more in this week's fascinating program.
"I am HaShem, your G-d." You need to believe it! But believing it is not enough: You need to Know it! And how do we know that HaShem is G-d? By experiencing and acknowledging G-d's presence in our lives. Know HaShem your G-d. Click here to view Rabbi Richman's teaching on parashat Yitro (Exodus 18:1 - 20:23).
Illustrated Tour Of The Holy Temple: Pt. 8: The Temple Mount: The Stoa & Watchtowers: The Levites kept watch in watchtowers which were situated in the four corners of the wall surrounding the Temple Mount plaza. The stoa was a covered area that stood on pillars, (a portica, or colonnade) ran along the entire circumference of the Temple Mount plaza. The Illustrated Tour of the Holy Temple is a daily post. Click here.
Arabs Bewail Jordanian Custodianship Of Temple Mount Mosque: The Jordanian Opposition Coalition,which seeks to replace Jordan's monarchy with a democratic government, has released a video in which Arabs interviewed on the Temple Mount openly accuse the Jordanian government of embezzlement of funds, donation fraud, and systematic neglect of the al aqsa mosque. click here to view video.
Israel's Minister Of Internal Security Gilad Erdan Celebrates 'Temple Mount Revolution' In Tribute To Publication Of New Book Har Habayit K’Halachah, ("The Temple Mount In Jewish Law"): A festive book launch took place in Jerusalem Sunday night, in honor of the publication of a new book, Har HaBayit K’halachah, ("The Temple Mount in Jewish Law"), and its author, Rabbi Elisha Wolfson. At the gathering, which included many prominent rabbis, a letter penned by Israel's Minister Of Internal Security, Gilad Erdan, in honor of the occasion, was read aloud Click here to learn more and see photos.
Rabbi Chaim Richman: The Dedication of the Third Temple: Rabbi Chaim Richman, International Director of the Temple Institute of Jerusalem, speaks about the dedication of the Third Temple, and shares insights and progress towards the rebuilding of the Holy Temple in our time, and its meaning for all mankind. This teaching was recorded on November 11, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. Click here to view video
Eclipse Of Tu B'shvat Blood Moon Seen Over The Skies Of Jerusalem!: Last night (Tu b'Shvat) an eclipse of a blood moon was visible in Israel. These photos were taken over Jerusalem. Click here to see photos.
Tu Bb'Shvat: The New Year For Trees! During the time of the Holy Temple on the first, second, fourth and fifth year of the Shemitta (7 year sabbatical) cycle, farmers set aside a tenth of their produce and eat it in Jerusalem. This tithe is known as Maaser Sheni, (the Second Tithe). Click here to learn more.
Palestinians' Anti-Semitic Stereotyping Of Jews On Temple Mount: Palestinians are continuing to use the Temple Mount, in Arabic known as the Haram al-Sharif, in Jerusalem, as a platform for incitement against Israel in general and Jews in particular. Since 2014, the Palestinian Authority leadership, including President Mahmoud Abbas, have been waging an unprecedented wave of incitement against Israel and Jews to protest visits to the Temple Mount. Click here to learn more.
Shavua Tov From The Temple Mount! A new week begins upon the Temple Mount! Last week 270 Jewish worshipers braved the stormy weather and ascended the Temple Mount in purity. Recently released police records show that 35,695 Jews ascended the Temple Mount during 2018. The Temple Mount awaits you! Click here to see photos.
Help To Build The Holy Temple In Our Time: Donate Generously To Help The Sacred Work Of The Temple Institute! Every contribution helps to rebuild the Holy Temple in our Time!
Interested in Ascending the Temple Mount? Contact us via our website, email us at infotempleinstitute@gmail.com or via our Facebook page. For more information on ascending the Temple Mount in purity, please click here.
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute
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