PARASHAT TERUMAH & THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE!
This week we are reading the Torah portion of Terumah, (Exodus 25:1 - 27:19), which begins with HaShem's historic disclosure to Moshe that He desires to dwell amongst His people Israel:
"HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying:
'Speak to the children of Israel and let them take for Me a portion; you shall take a portion for Me from every person whose heart is so moved by a spirit of generosity. And this is the portion that you shall accept from them: gold, silver, and copper; blue, purple, and crimson wool, fine linen, goats’ hair; tanned ram skins, tachash skins, and acacia wood; oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the aromatic incense; shoham stones and stones for setting, for the Ephod and for the Breastplate.'
And they shall make Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them." (Exodus 25:1-8)
The continuation of parashat Terumah and much of the rest of the book of Exodus will focus on HaShem's instructions how to build for Him a Sanctuary, the many details of the construction of the Tabernacle, the sacred vessels of service to be used by the kohanim, and the fashioning of the priestly garments, focusing on the eight garments to be worn by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest).
For the Temple Institute these verses are nothing less than the breath of life that informs everything we do, from research and writing, to reproducing the sacred vessels and the priestly garments, to creating an unparalleled archive of paintings depicting life in the Holy Temple, all of which can be experienced in person at our Jerusalem exhibition; from seasonal reenactments of the pilgrimage holiday Temple offerings, to intensive work to produce the longed for ashes of the red heifer, and to the recreation of the Levitical Choir which is already engaged in special holiday performances.
Just as HaShem called upon Israel to open its heart to make possible His dream of dwelling amongst His children, we at the Temple Institute call upon all who long for G-d's nearness and to live in a world worthy of His presence, to give generously to help us to continue our sacred work.
HELP US MAKE G-D’S DREAM COME TRUE!
THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE LEVITICAL CHOIR PERFORMS ACHEINU KOL BEIT YISRAEL
On Passover, (2024/5784) the Temple Institute's Levitical Choir performed an outdoor concert in Jerusalem's Old City Jewish Quarter Central Plaza. Among the songs they performed was Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael, (Our brothers, the whole house of Israel), an ancient prayer for the safe delivery of Jews in distress, wherever they may be. In light of today's global assault on Jews by jihadists, woke leftists and assorted hate camp followers, the words of Acheinu Kol Yisrael seem more urgent than ever.
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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!
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LEVITICAL CHOIR PERFORMS AT THE SOUTHERN WALL OF THE TEMPLE MOUNT!
Last week, during the intermediate days of Sukkot, the Temple Institute's Levitical Choir joined dozens of other musical Levites in a festive performance of Psalm 27. The Temple Institute's Levitical Choir performers can be recognized by their Levitical uniforms, and, of course, the silver trumpets are those reproduced by the Temple Institute. The concert was a joint production of The Temple Institute, the East Jerusalem Development Company, the Municipality of Jerusalem, and others.
The performance took place on the steps leading up to the ancient Hulda Gates on the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount, the gates through which thousands of pilgrims once ascended from the City of David to the Holy Temple.
"One thing I ask of HaShem, that I seek - that I may dwell in the house of HaShem all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of HaShem and to visit His Temple all the days of my life."
TEMPLE TALK: DUTIES OF THE KOHANIM!
PESACH SHENI - THE HOLIDAY OF SECOND CHANCES!
NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU ARE YOU CAN ALWAYS RETURN!
Israeli IDF soldier and US citizen Edan Alexander held hostage for over 500 days in Gaza, returns home to Israel. Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, have special responsibilities and prohibitions imposed upon them that apply to this very day. Second Passover was G-d's tribute to all who strive to do His will.
Remember: Helping to make HaShem's dream of a Sanctuary in which His Presence can dwell amongst us, is the work of the Temple Institute! Join us in our efforts!
WEEKLY TORAH STUDY EMOR/אמר
Time. What is it made of? Where does it come from? Where does it go? Only man, it would seem, keeps track of time. The days and weeks, sabbaths and holidays are all noted in parashat Emor. And for one 49 day period we are commanded to keep scrupulous attention to the passing of the days.
Emor (Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23)
Parashat Emor is read on Shabbat:
Iyar 19, 5785/May 17, 2025
TISH'A B'AV: 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!
TISH'A B'AV: 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!
THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE: BRINGING THE HOLY TEMPLE TO LIFE!
"Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering..." (Ex. 25:2)
Thus begins Terumah, this week's Torah reading, in which HaShem reveals His desire that Israel "make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst." (Ex. 25:8)
The Temple Institute is dedicated to making the Holy Temple a reality in our day, and toward this end, the Temple Institute has, for 36 years, been building and planning and researching and teaching and sharing with you our reconstructed sacred vessels and priestly garments, our books and paintings, our red heifer candidates, our teachings and insights and our love for HaShem and the Holy Temple!
It is only through the generosity of your hearts that we are able to continue our important work. Only together can we build for HaShem a sanctuary and "a house of prayer for all nations!"
THE RED HEIFER!
The ashes of the red heifer, essential for the renewal of the Divine service in the Holy Temple, is one of the Torah's most fascinating and mysterious commandments. In our brand new in-depth entry, learn what constitutes "a perfectly red unblemished cow," how the ashes are made and how they are applied, the history and the mystery of the red heifer, and current efforts to raise a red heifer. Beautifully illustrated and extensively footnoted!
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.
We invite you to join us in our worldwide effort to produce the longed-for ashes of the red heifer!
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