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"The place HaShem, your G-d, will choose"(Deuteronomy 11:12) Av 26, 5784/August 30, 2024 "Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse," (Deuteronomy 11:26) begins this week parashah, Re'eh. Re'eh - see, behold, look, is the imperative which informs the entire Torah reading of Re'eh. For after a brief mention of a blessing and curse ceremony that the Torah will return to with more details later in Deuteronomy, much of parashat Re'eh is focused on "the place HaShem, your G-d, will choose in which to establish His Name," (ibid 12:11) that is, the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple. Sixteen times in all, parashat Re'eh refers to the future Holy Temple as "the place HaShem, your G-d, will choose." Why is Moshe keeping the location of the future Temple hidden from Israel and how is it that HaShem "will choose" the location? Does not He already know, even from before creation itself, where the Holy Temple will stand? And how does this spirit of coyness jibe with Re'eh's opening commandment - "See!"? Actually, Moshe, speaking in HaShem's name, is playing a game. The location of the Holy Temple, which "HaShem, your G-d, will choose," is revealed in the very word re'eh - see! Up until now, in Moshe's final address to Israel, which makes up the book of Deuteronomy, if he wanted the people to focus on what he was about to say, Moshe would employ the imperative Shema - listen! - hear and internalize the words I am about to say. This directive to listen, in fact, hearkens back to Israel's first affirmation of commitment to the Torah she received at Sinai, when the nation in unison, declared, "na'ase venishma - All that HaShem spoke we will do and we will hear." (Exodus 24:7) Now, when Moshe changes his terminology and instead of saying shema - listen, he says re'eh - see, he is hearkening back to an even earlier event in Israel's history. Moshe is hearkening back to the akeida - the binding of Yitzchak by his father Avraham, and HaShem's commandment to Avraham to offer his son up on Mount Moriah. Following G-d's shocking command to Avraham, we read that "On the third day, Avraham lifted up his eyes and saw (ra'ah) the place from afar." (Genesis 22:4) Avraham's first recognition of the place where he was to offer up his son was by sight. Sight is again employed in the Hebrew text when Avraham answers his son's question, saying, "G-d will provide (yir'eh - will see) for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." (ibid 24::8) The climax of the story, and the very moment that the unnamed place of the akeida will be memorialized forever occurs when "Avraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw (vayar), and lo! there was a ram, and after that it was caught in a tree by its horns. And Avraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. And Avraham named that place, HaShem will see (yir'eh), as it is said to this day: On the mountain, HaShem will be seen (ye-areh)." (ibid 22:13-14) It was Avraham's unwavering commitment to HaShem's command, no matter how difficult, which determined that this unnamed place, located somewhere in the "land of Moriah," (ibid 22:2) would be the future place of the Holy Temple, "the place HaShem, your G-d, will choose in which to establish His Name." "Three times during the year, all your males shall appear (yera-eh) before the Master, HaShem," (Exodus 23:17) and "Three times in the year, every one of your males shall appear before HaShem, your G-d, in the place He will choose: on the Festival of Matzot and on the Festival of Shavuot, and on the Festival of Sukkot, and he shall not appear before HaShem empty-handed." (Deut. 16:17) We are commanded to stand up and be seen by HaShem in the place that He will choose, the place already fixed in eternity by Avraham's act of utter adherence to HaShem's will all those many eons ago. It is not enough to simply hear - shema - and internalize this commandment. We must show up and be seen before HaShem, and by doing so merit to see HaShem's presence in the place that He will choose. The importance of this obligation to ascend three times a year to the Holy Temple can be explained in another revelation shared in parashat Re'eh: "You are children of HaShem, your G-d." (ibid 14:1) We are, indeed, the children of HaShem, and our Father, like any earthly father, calls upon us to visit and be in His presence on the festive days of the Hebrew calendar. G-d cherishes His children and insists that we visit and bask in His presence, as He will bask in our presence - to see and be seen! By referring to the place of the Holy Temple as "the place HaShem, your G-d, will choose," the Torah is making clear to us that the location of the Holy Temple, the center of all human endeavor, is G-d's choice, not ours. We don't have the right, nor the freedom to "relocate" the Holy Temple, even if today, in light of the seventh century Muslim colonization of the Temple Mount for their religious-imperialist purposes, might make such a relocation enticing. Just as Avraham had to work out the inherent contradictions in G-d's commandment to offer up his son Yitzchak, we today have to press on and force this issue of the rebuilding of the Holy Temple with the same unassailable faith that Avraham had in HaShem, knowing that a peaceful resolution will follow. Re'eh - see, behold, look - envision! It is imperative that we, today, focus on and raise up our eyes just as Avraham did, and envision what experiencing the Holy Temple will look like. The more focused we are on the prize the sooner it will become a reality. Avraham had traveled for three days when he lifted his eyes and saw "the place from afar." Our journey has been two thousand years, but each day we are one day closer. The distant, barely perceptible place is slowly, slowly coming into focus. "They shall make for Me a sanctuary" (Exodus 25:8) HaShem told Moshe on Mount Sinai, in the place that He will choose, for the glory of HaShem and for the blessing of His children. Re'eh - look - and make it happen! |
The Temple Institute: Building the Holy Temple! The three weeks of mourning which stretch from the fast of the 17th of Tammuz to the fast of the 9th of Av may be a time for some people to look backward and dream about the Holy Temple that was. Not so for the people that make up the Temple Institute. The Temple Institute is forever looking forward and working tirelessly to educate Israel and the world about the importance of the Holy Temple in our future, while always training and preparing in every way possible for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service, soon, and in our days! |
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Yitzchak Reuven talks about "the place which Hashem Your G-D shall choose," and the Israeli hostage who comes home after daring IDF rescue operation, and the Torah's affirmation that we are the children of Hashem our G-d! Parashat Re'eh introduces us to the promise of the Holy Temple, a place of joyful gathering and closeness to HaShem. Just three days ago Israel pre-empted what would have been a deadly Hezbollah attack, destroying thousands of missiles aimed at Israel's major cities, and just hours ago an elite Israeli unit in Gaza rescued an Israeli Bedouin after more than 300 days in captivity! never a dull moment in G-d's promised land! |
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! |
"Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse." (Deut. 11:26) The blessing, we are told, is that we will heed the commandments of HaShem. The curse, if we don't. Nevertheless, in our ever changing world we are daily presented with new choices that never existed before. They may be shiny and bright and full of promise, but, nevertheless, we must choose carefully, for all the glitters is not gold, and all that looks full of promise, might be nothing but a curse in disguise. Re'eh (Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17)
Parashat Re'eh is read on Shabbat:
Av 27, 5784/August 31, 2024 |
Haftarah For Shabbat Parashat Re'eh Isaiah 54:11 - 55:5: "O poor tempestuous one, who was not consoled, behold I will set your stones with carbuncle, and I will lay your foundations with sapphires. And I will make your windows of jasper and your gates of carbuncle stones, and all your border of precious stones..." |
First Temple Period Stone Seal Discovery: Video In this video produced by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the archaeologists who discovered a beautiful, 2,700 year old stone seal, engraved with the name "Yeho'ezer ben Hosh'ayahu," describe their discovery of the seal at the foot of the southern Temple Mount retaining wall, and the history and significance of the rare discovery. |
A Day In The Holy Temple: The Menorah: A Spiritual Illumination The menorah can be seen as occupying the most central role of all the sacred vessels, for it is the symbol of light - and the sages refer to Jerusalem as "the light of the world" (Bereshit Rabbah 59). One reason for this is the light of the Menorah, bursting forth from within the sanctuary. For the menorah's light was a spiritual, as well as physical, illumination. |
“LeYeho'ezer Ben Hosh'ayahu” – Rare Stone Seal From First Temple Period Discovered In Jerusalem! An extremely rare and unusual stone seal from the First Temple period, about 2,700 years old, bearing a name inscribed in paleo-Hebrew script and a winged figure, was discovered near the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount, in the Davidson Archaeological Garden, during the excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the City of David organization. |
This Week: Parashat Re'eh - The Passover Pilgrimage At the conclusion of parashat Re'eh, the Torah mentions the threes pilgrimage festival of Passover, (Pesach), Shavuot and Sukkot, all which will be celebrated "in the place which HaShem will choose to establish His Name therein: "Keep the month of spring, and make the Passover offering to HaShem, your G-d, for in the month of spring, HaShem, your G-d, brought you out of Egypt at night..." |
A Day In The Holy Temple: About The Menorah Exodus Chapter 25:31-37 "And you shall make a menorah of pure gold; it shall be made of beaten work: Its base, stem, and cups, spheres and flowers must all be hammered out of a single piece of gold. And six branches shall extend from its sides, three branches of the menorah out of one side, and three branches out of the other side (i.e., of its central branch)..." |
This Week: Parashat Re'eh - Beit Habechirah In parashat Re'eh Moshe consistently refers to the future Hooy Temple as "the place HaShem, your G-d, will choose - HaMakom asher yivchar HaShem Elokeichem, which is why the Holy Temple is also referred to in Hebrew as Beit Habechirah בית הבחירה - the Chosen House. "And it will be, that the place HaShem, your G-d, will choose in which to establish His Name there you shall bring all that I am commanding you..." |
A Synagogue On The Temple Mount? Temple Institute Founder Answers Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, the founder of the Temple Institute and the dean of the Temple Yeshiva, sat with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News for an interview following the renewed debate regarding Jewish visits to the Temple Mount. |
A Day In The Holy Temple - Removing The Ashes From The Menorah At the same time, the colleague who has been assigned the next task enters into the Sanctuary in the same manner and approaches the menorah, which stands in the south side. This illustration depicts a kohen preparing the lights of the Menorah. The branches are straight, not rounded, based on an important find made in our generation: a manuscript of Maimonides’ Commentary to the Mishna (Menachot 3:7) – with a sketch he drew of a straight-branched Menorah. |
This Week: Parashat Re'eh - "The Place Which HaShem Your G-d Shall Choose" In this week's Torah reading we hear for the first time mention of "the place which HaShem your G-d shall choose," that is, Beit HaMikdash - the Holy Temple! "But only to the place which HaShem your G-d shall choose from all your tribes, to set His Name there; you shall inquire after His dwelling and come there." (Deuteronomy 12:5) |
There Is No Temple Mount Status Quo – Wakf, Palestinians Trampled It - Opinion By Michael Freund. Of all the falsehoods promulgated about the Middle East – and they are many – one of the most dogged and pernicious of all is the assertion that an immutable status quo exists on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. |
A Day In The Holy Temple: Removing The Ashes From The Inner Altar We have focused on the Tamid offering itself; while these aspects of the Divine service are transpiring, other activities which had been awarded by the second lottery begin as well. Once the gates to the Sanctuary have been opened, the other kohanim on the staff, who are involved in separate aspects of the morning service, may commence with their tasks. |
This Week: Parashat Re'eh - The Blessing And The Curse This week's Torah reading, (Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17), begins with the Hebrew word Re'eh, (ראה), which means, see, look, behold. The word for seeing is found nine times in parashat Re'eh, seven of those times in connection to the Holy Temple, which is referred to as "the place HaShem, your G-d, will choose in which to establish His Name." (ibid 12:13) |
Mikdash Monday - The month of Av - Part 1 "I, yea I am He Who consoles you; who are you that you fear man who will die and the son of man, who shall be made as grass?" (Isaiah 51:12) |
A Day In The Holy Temple: The Lamb Is Led To Slaughter Now, the kohen who received first place in the lottery and thus, the right to slaughter the Tamid, leads the lamb to the area of the court north of the altar. He is followed by the 6 kohanim who will actually bring the parts of the offering up to the altar's ramp. |
Havdalah In a Time Of War We are happy to share this video taken last night of IDF combat soldiers about to enter into Gaza. They are joyfully reciting the Havdalah prayer said each week at the conclusion of Shabbat. Havdalah is the official prayer which concludes Shabbat and welcomes in the new week. Blessings are said over wine, emphasizing the sanctity of Shabbat and ushering in the new six day work week. |
Shavua Tov From The Temple Mount! It's hard to believe that just two weeks ago if a Jew prostrated himself on the Temple Mount he would have been forcibly removed by the police and banned from the Temple Mount for a period of time totally dependent on the discretion of the police. Now that the police have been instructed to allow Jews to freely perform this mitzvah, it seems like everyone is doing it. And rightfully so, for hishtachavia - that is, prostrating oneself before the presence of haShem on the Temple Mount is a Torah commandment! |
Build a House for HaShem! "Be strong and have courage! Build a House for HaShem!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, the prophet Samuel charges King David with the task of building the Holy Temple! |
The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First! "The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, Zerubavel from the house of David and Kohen Gadol (High Priest) Yehoshua consult with the prophet Haggai who instructs them to waste no time in rebuilding the Holy Temple! |
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. |
Biblical Red Heifer Could Bring Million Visitors To Samaria The Ancient Shiloh heritage site will soon host a Red Heifer research center. Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria’s Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer. The 22-month-old cow, which was brought to Israel from the United States, found a new home at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site, where the biblical Tabernacle once stood. |
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute |
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