Question

Honorable Rabbi, hello,

I’m in London and the Sabbath still hasn’t begun here, so I’m writing.
(I am in London, but my heart is in Jerusalem…)
It seems to me that the prevalent opinion today is that the Temple must be built on the Temple Mount in the exact spot.
I agree that this satisfies all opinions, but—
A. I have not found any obligation at all in the Talmud to build a Temple.
B. It seems that the commandment is learned directly from Scripture: “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” And likewise from the commandments to offer sacrifices, which are stated explicitly in Scripture and in the Talmud, and are truly obligatory.
C. In the Bible, naturally, when it was not yet time to build the Temple, they did not hesitate to build the Tabernacle at Shiloh and in other places in the Land of Israel.
D. In a brief survey, I did not see anywhere in the words of the Sages that sacrifices must be offered in Jerusalem specifically on Mount Moriah. The wording is always about “the holiness of Jerusalem” and “within the curtains,” and I did not see this said about the Temple Mount in the context of sacrifices.
E. The only place I saw this was in Maimonides, who spoke about Mount Moriah as the place where Isaac was offered, and therefore also as the place of the outer altar. True, he brings verses for this, but they are so difficult that it is hard to understand that this is really the intent there. One verse speaks about Zion and not about the Temple Mount at all, and this is not mentioned in the Talmud.
F. If the Temple’s obligation, from the Talmud’s standpoint, is a house for God in which to offer sacrifices, and it is hard to see what Maimonides is relying on, then it seems that Maimonides’ midrashic remarks are not indispensable, while we are missing the positive commandment of sacrifices, which is a full obligation from Scripture and the Talmud. Therefore, from halakhic considerations, it would seem that there is an obligation to build a Temple outside the Temple Mount and offer in it the sacrifices that we are obligated in.
G. As for the aspiration for the Temple Mount, clearly that is the optimal way to fulfill the commandment, but the Hebrew Bible teaches that we are not concerned that building the Temple in the optimal way will be forgotten if the people first build it less ideally. The Jewish people will not settle for that. The Hebrew Bible teaches that a temporary Tabernacle should be established. This was true in the days of Eli, in the days of David, and throughout that whole period in practice. There are even positive opinions regarding the Temple of Onias. The idea of ruling Jewish law based on aggadic literature, as Maimonides did, is a crazy idea, bordering on a manic Jerusalem syndrome of finding hints in verses. But we say, “I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not awaken or stir up love until it pleases.” Maimonides reached a kind of madness. See what he says about one who serves out of love, who loses his senses from love of that woman. Maimonides reaches an enormous longing, and it potentially exists in all the Jewish people; the Temple is truly the dwelling place of longing and union. But Jewish law is ruled with a clear mind.
H. Regarding “the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established at the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills,” etc., I repeat that I still think that this is the optimal way to fulfill the commandment, except that a temporary solution must be found. On the contrary: through extending holiness even to the gentiles, the way will be paved, and through peace as well. Arab fear of the building of the Third Temple may have ignited at least one intifada. Besides, the verse does not speak about the Temple at all, but about teaching proper paths and the straight way. In this respect, the Muslims who are there also believe in the God of Israel and may teach righteous justice. Interreligious cooperation can be a blessing as a light unto the nations. Perhaps even an obligation.
I. For these reasons, I believe that such a building would contribute to peace, because the Muslims would feel less threatened, and therefore there is also potential for political-Jewish-secular help in the task.
 
I would be glad to hear your opinion on this. Mainly from the standpoint of the law, but I’d also be glad to hear your view about the connection of the idea to reality—its feasibility and the political aspect.
 
Have a good week..