CITYsights: Jewish temple brought to Life

How a visit to the Institute's museum can bring the reality of the Jewish temple to life.

By ITRAVELJERUSALEM.COM TEAM
Temple 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Temple 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Founded in 1987, the Temple Institute in the Old City of Jerusalem is dedicated to the building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem. The Institute focuses a lot of energy on practically preparing the fine details for the Third Temple as well as lighting the flame of the temple in Jewish hearts through seminars, publications, conferences, and the production of educational materials.
The Institute has created replicas of many of the ritual objects used in the Temple, including the Temple vessels, trumpets, and priestly vestments, all constructed according to Biblical specifications and ready to be put into service should the need arise. After many years of effort, the Institute has completed the three most significant and central vessels of the Divine service: the seven-branched Menorah made of pure gold; the golden Incense Altar, and the golden Table of the Showbread.
The impressive solid gold menorah is displayed in the Jewish Quarter, beside the stairs leading down to the Western Wall plaza and the Temple Mount, whereas the rest of the pieces are on display in the Institute's museum. All are amazing to see – especially when one considers the exacting specifications according to which they were made.
The Temple Institute also organizes Jewish visits to the Temple Mount during weekday mornings, and has put a lot of effort into finding a red heifer that can be used for ritual purification (the existence of such a bovine specimen is also considered a portent of the Final Redemption).
A visit to the Institute's museum is an enthralling educational experience that brings the reality of the Jewish temple to life.
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