The Temple Institute

The Temple Institute, known in Hebrew as Machon HaMikdash (), is a non-profit religious and educational organization in Israel focusing on raising world consciousness to the 
centrality of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to the life of the Jewish people and to all mankind. It aspires to reach this goal 
through educational outreach and through the construction of actual Temple ritual objects and priestly garments, which are 
suitable for immediate use, in the event conditions permit the reconstruction of the Holy Temple. The Temple Institute has 
received a number of awards in recognition of its contribution to Jewish education in Israel, by the Israeli Ministry of 
Education. The Temple Institute is a government recognized, registered non-profit charitable organization in both Israel and the 
USA (501 (C) 3). 
[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1128955356833&pagename=JPost%
2FJPArticle%2FPrinter "A House of Prayer for All Nations"] Jerusalem Post, October 11, 
2005 It was founded and is headed by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel.
[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE1D6133FF93AA35757C0A96F948260 Rebuild 
Herod's Temple? A Few Israelis Hope] New York Times, April 9, 1989. Its current 
Director General is Mordechai Prinze, and the International Department is headed by 
Rabbi Chaim Richman. 
== Activities ==
===Building of Temple ritual items ===
[http://www.templeinstitute.org/vessels_gallery.htm Temple Institute - 
Ritual Objects]'''	[http://www.templeinstitute.org/vessels_gallery.htm Temple Institute - 
Ritual Objects]'''
Item 	Purpose
Copper laver 	For Kohanim to wash at start of day
Mizrak 	Holds blood from sacrificial animals
Large mizrak 	Holds blood from larger animals
Three-pronged fork 	To arrange offerings on the altar
Measuring cup 	To measure meal offerings
Copper vessel for meal offerings 	To prepare meal offerings
Silver shovel 	To remove ashes from the altar
Silver vessel for wine libation 	For wine accompanying offerings
Lottery box 	For Yom Kippur
Silver altar cup for water libation	For Sukkot
Silver libation vessels 	For Sukkot
Sickle 	To reap the Omer barley
Other offering implements 	To offer the Omer barley
Abuv 	To roast the Omer barley
Menorah cleansing vessel 	To clean the Menorah
Oil pitcher 	For replenishing the Menorah
Small golden flask 	For replenishing individual Menorah lamps
Frankincense censer 	
Incense chalice 	For Ketoret or incense offering
Incense shovel 	For Ketoret or incense offering
Menorah 	See Menorah.
Table of the Showbread 	See Showbread.
Incense altar 	For Ketoret or incense offering
Ark of the Covenant (mock up) 	See Ark of the Covenant.
Crown 	Crown worn by the High Priest
Garments of the High Priest 	See High Priest.
Silver trumpets 	Announce special occasions and offerings
Gold-plated shofar 	For Rosh Hashanah. See Shofar.
Silver-plated shofar 	For fast days. See Shofar.
Harp 	Used by the choir of Levites singing psalms
Lyre 	Used by the choir of Levites singing psalms
As part of its ongoing effort to prepare for a future rebuilt Temple, the Temple Institute 
has been preparing ritual objects suitable for Temple use. Many of the over ninety ritual 
items to be used in the Temple have been made by the Temple Institute. 
As of June 2008, a major current project of the institute is the creation of the sacred 
uniform of the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, and the ordinary priests. This 
project, the culmination of years of study and research, has been underway for several 
years. The High Priest's Hoshen (breastplate) and Ephod have already been 
completed. The Tzitz, the golden crown of the High Priest, was completed in 2007. 
 
The Temple Institute is currently manufacturing garments for the lay priests, which can be 
purchased by Kohanim who can verify their lineage.
=== Education programs ===
The institute's educational efforts include raising public awareness about the Holy 
Temple, and the central role that it is believed to occupy in the spiritual life of 
mankind. These efforts include a full-time research staff (kollel), seminars, 
publications, and conferences, as well as the production of educational materials. Online 
educational tools include the Institute's website , 
educational videos and video conferencing.
===Red Heifer===
In addition to a variety of items required for service within the Temple, the institute 
has attempted to locate a parah adumah (Red heifer) consistent with the 
requirements of Numbers 19:1-22 and Mishnah Tractate Parah for 
purposes of taharah (purification) necessary to enter the Temple sanctuary 
proper in most circumstances. 
http://www.templeinstitute.org/red_heifer/red_heifer_contents.htm Temple Institute: 
Red Heifer In recent years, the institute identified two candidates, one in 1997 and 
another in 2002.
Red Heifer born in Israel 
Temple Institute, 8 April 2002 The Temple Institute had initially declared both 
kosher, but later found each to be unsuitable.
==Controversies==
===Rebuilding a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount===
Although Orthodox Judaism generally agrees that the Temple in Jerusalem will and 
should be rebuilt, there is a substantial disagreement about whether this should occur by 
human or divine hands. The Temple Institute interprets the opinion of the Rambam 
(Maimonides) as saying that Jews should attempt to build the Temple themselves, and 
have a mitzvah (obligation) to do so if they can. 
===Ascending the Temple Mount===
The rabbis associated with the Temple Institute hold (also following the Rambam) that 
it is permissible under Jewish law for Jews to visit certain specified parts 
of the Temple Mount, after proper preparations have been made, and regularly organize 
groups to ascend and tour the Mount. The view that Jews may ascend the Temple is highly 
controversial among Orthodox rabbis, with many authorities completely 
prohibiting visiting the Mount to prevent accidental entrance into and desecration of the 
Holy of Holies or other sacred, off-limits areas.
The Temple Institute conducts aliyot (literally, "going up"; "making a pilgrimage") to the 
Temple Mount. 
These aliyot are conducted in accordance with halachic requirements. They take place 
during 
weekday mornings, as these are the only hours that Jews are presently allowed to frequent 
the Mount, due to government policy which cedes administrative authority of the Temple 
Mount to the Moslem Wakf.
==See also==
* The Third Temple
* Modern attempts to revive the Sanhedrin
* Temple Mount
==References and footnotes==
==External links==
* Temple Institute official website
* Temple Institute Store
Category:Orthodox Judaism
Category:Zionist organizations
Category:Temple Mount
Category:Museums in Jerusalem
he:מכון המקדש