The Hagomel Blessing: the Thanksgiving Offering of Today

by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 15, 2022 | Gratitude, Messiah, Miracles, Prayer, Temple, Tests and Trials, Tzav

The korban todah (thanksgiving offering) was brought by anyone who survived a hazardous situation, such as a life-threatening illness, perilous journey or other hardship. The Talmud (Berachot 54b) lists the classic examples of people who would bring this offering:...

The Continuous Flame on the Altar and in Our Hearts

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 14, 2022 | Miracles, Temple, Tzav

The altar in the Tabernacle was, of course, for burning the sacrifices, but the Torah commanded that the fire be kept burning constantly, night and day, regardless of whether or not there was a sacrifice to burn. The Jerusalem Talmud (Yoma 4:6) explains that special...

Will the Sacrifices Be Reinstated in the Third Temple?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 13, 2022 | Messiah, Temple

The Torah states explicitly that the mitzvoth (commandments) are eternal, to be performed by all generations of Jews after the revelation at Mount Sinai. This was clearly stated in several places: Concealed acts concern Hashem our God; but with overt acts, it is for...

The Peace Offering in the City of Peace

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 10, 2022 | Holiness, Kindness and Compassion, Passover, Temple, Vayikra

People who are unfamiliar with the Bible think that a sacrifice is an unspecified animal that is slaughtered haphazardly and thrown into a blazing fire to be burnt entirely. But the book of Vayikra (Leviticus) is incredibly specific, describing a variety of sacrifices...

Does Being the Poor Man’s Sacrifice Make the Meal Offering Less Desirable?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 8, 2022 | God, Temple, Vayikra

The meal offering was characteristically brought by the poor as it was less expensive than a meat offering. The offering consisted chiefly of fine flour, olive oil and frankincense. The grain could either be raw and mixed with oil, or mixed with oil and cooked into...

The Accounting of the Materials Used for the Tabernacle: a Precedent for Honest Business Dealings

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 4, 2022 | Community, Faith, Holiness, Justice, Leadership, Pekudei, Temple

The Tabernacle and all its components required large amounts of costly materials so, after its construction, Moses gave an accounting of materials that had been used (Exodus 38:21). This required that in addition to being a prophet, politician, judge, and social...