Yechezkel 41

This perek continues discussing Yechezkel’s vision of the 3rd Beis Hamikdash and the exact dimensions and details. As mentioned in the previous Perek due to the difficulty and obscure nature of these perakim NachDaily is switching form its normal format and will just be focusing on 1 or 2 topics relating to the 3rd Beis Hamikdash.

This perek contains the dimensions for the Sanctuary, Holy of Holies, the side chambers surrounding the Holy of Holies, the overall dimensions of the Temple complex and open space, The Temple wall’s decorations, the wooden inner altar and sanctuary.

This Shiur will discuss weather or not the Beis Hamikdash will be mad made or fall from heaven.

The Rambam in Hilchos Beis Habichira 1:1 brings it’s a Mitzvas Asay / Positive commandment to build a house for Hashem. As it says in the Torah, Sefer Shmos 25:8 “V’asu Li Mikdash, V’Shanti B’Sochum – Make for me a Mikdash/House and I will dwell amongst you.” Moshe had fulfilled this commandment by building a Mishkan/Home for God.

Therefore, we see it’s a proactive Mitzva in the Torah for all Yisrael to build a Beis Hamikdash for Hashem.

Rashi Sukka 41a and in Rosh Hashana 30a  clearly explains the 3rd Beis Hamikdash will fall from Heaven and not be built by man.  As the 3rd Beis Hamikdash is actually already constructed by God just waiting in Heaven to descend! Rashi  learns this from the Passuk in Shemos 15:12

You will bring them and plant them in Your own mountain, The place You made to dwell in, O LORD, The sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands established.     

This passuk would seem to indicate the 3rd Beis Hamikdash will built by Hashem. As it says the Mikdash which was built through “Your Hands” Meaning the 3rd Beis Hamikdash will be built by the hands of God.

The Ba’al Haturim explains on this Passuk: The Beis Hamikdash here, below on earth is exactly aligned with the spiritual Beis Hamikdash in Heaven. The Ba’al Haturim also explains the word L’Shivticha meaning “god will reside” has the numerical value of 752 which is the same numerical value as Yerushalayim and Tzion added together which equals 752.

The connections is between the words Is because God has chosen to rest his presence is Yerushalyim and Tzion.

Perhaps this is what the Gemara in Taanis 5A means

The Holy One said ‘I will not enter Jerusalem above until I can enter Jerusalem below. (Tannis 5A)

The Gemarah continues and askes: And is there a Yerushlayim Shel Malah – Above? And answers Yes there is!

In other words, we see from here it’s a Mitzva to physically build the 3rd Beis Hamikdash as our Gemmara says God will not enter the heavenly “Yerushalayim” ie the Beis Hamikdash until He can enter the Physical “Yerushalayim” Ie Beis Hamikdash from Below! This would seemingly imply that he 3rd Beis Hamikdash will not necessarily fall down from Heaven as we are taught when were kids. That the 3rd Beis Hmakidash requires man power.

Rambam in Hilchos Melachim 11:1 explains the 3rd Temple will be manmade and built by Mashiach.

In fact Historically this known, as well as, being brought in the Beriashis Rabba 64:10 and that in the times of Yehoshua Ben Chananyah  (who one of the main students of Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai) they were granted permission by the Romans to rebuild the Beis Hamikdash and actually started to do so. They quickly and happily started to work on Rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash but their plans were foiled by the Samaritian’s who intervened and made it stop.  They told the Roman Emperor that if Yisrael was to rebuild the Beis Hamikdash the Jews would over throw the government. Immediately the permission to rebuild was revoked! This would further show that the 3rd Beis Hamikdash is not going to descend from Heaven and will be built by man. What is even more amazing here is that in the times of Yehoshua Ben Chananyah they themselves started to rebuild it without the arrival of Mashiach!

Ramchal in Sefer Mishkeney Elyon Explains offers and amazing hybrid of whether or not the Beis Hamikdash will be built by man or built by God. As we mentioned earlier there is a spiritual exalted Beis Hamikdash in Heaven. When the 3rd Beis Hamikdash will be rebuilt, The upper exalted lights of the Beis Hamikdash in Heaven will descend down to here on earth in the lower world. And then around it will be built a physical structure! In other words, the Heavenly Beis Hamikdash will descend from heaven but it will only be recognizable once man actually builds its physical walls!

The Ramchal than continues to explain Al Pi Kabbalah how the aforementioned concepts fits numerically with different spellings and arrangements of God’s names.

Let us merit to see the final stages of the redemption when the whole world will gather at the 3rd Beis Hamikdash to pray, connect and experience the God. As it says: “the world wil be filled with the knowledge of God like waters that cover the earth.”