To Build or Not to Build? What a Question!
As we draw closer and closer to the most dismal day of the year, it is somewhat depressing to realize that the third and final Beit Hamikdash has not yet been built. Here we are, seemingly in the same place that we were this time last year (and the year before, and the year before that…), wondering where we went wrong. Questioning why we are still “Beit Hamikdash-less.”
There is a fascinating debate among the early authorities whether the Beit Hamikdash will be built by human hands, as were the first two Batei Mikdash, or whether the final Beit Hamikdash will descend from the Heavens as a completed structure made by Hashem’s.
Rashi (Rosh Hashana 30a) is of the opinion that the third Beit Hamikdash will descend in a state of completion from the Heavens, in all its perfect splendor. Tosafot (Shavuot 15b) agrees with Rashi that there will be no human building of the Beit Hamikdash.
Their view is based on a verse in Shemot (15:17), “You will bring them and implant them on the mount of Your heritage, the foundation of Your dwelling place that You, Hashem, has made; the Sanctuary my L-rd, that Your hands established.”
They point to the words, “the Sanctuary my L-rd, that Your hands established” to mean that iHashem alone will build the Beit Hamikdash.
However, Maimonides (Hilchot Melachim 11:1) is of the opinion that the Mashiach, assisted by the Jewish nation, will build the third Beit Hamikdash. The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 95) rules in accordance with Maimonides.
The Zohar HaKadosh (Bereshet 28a) supports Rashi’s opinion that the third Beit Hamikdash will be solely built by Hashem. The premise of the Zohar is quite simple. Since the third Beit Hamikdash will never be destroyed, it must be that it will be built by Hashem, Himself. The Zohar Hakadosh cites a verse from Chagai (2:9), “The glory of this latter Temple will be greater than that of the first…”Interestingly, the conventional interpretation of this verse is that it refers to the First and the Second Batei Mikdashe Second. However, the Zohar understands it to be a reference to the glory and the splendor of the final Beit Hamikdash. This provides a novel insight into the first verse of chapter 127 in Tehillim, where King David writes, “If Hashem will not build the house, its builders labor in vain.”
Is there a way of knowing with certainty which opinion is correct? The Maharam Schick, Rabbi Moshe Schick 1807-1879, writes that it is possible that both opinions are valid. He cites the famous verse in Yeshayah (60:22), where Hashem declares that the final redemption will arrive “be’ito achishena, in its time I will hasten it.” Our Sages clarify (Sanhedrin 98a) that the redemption can come either at the last moment set aside by Hashem, be’ito, or it can arrive earlier, achishena. It all depends on our behavior. If we truly pine for redemption and go through a process of Teshuvah, we can bring about the Final Redemption right now. At this very minute! But, if not, we will need to wait, observing perhaps more days of Tisha b’Av until we merit to greet the Mashiach.
Accordingly, writes the Maharam Schick, if we do Teshuvah and we bring about the Final Redemption, we will build the Beit Hamikdash together with the Mashiach. And, if not, Hashem will cause the eternal Beit Hamikdash to descend to us at the End of Days.
Rabbi Asher Weiss, with his customary innovative brilliance, suggests that both views of how the final Beit Hamikdash will be built are correct. We will build, and Hashem will build. He explains that we are constructing the Beit Hamikdash in the Heavens right now with our actions down here. The Beit Hamikdash is in a constant process of being constructed in the Heavenly Realms through our Torah learning and our Mitzvah observance. And when we finally finish the process, Hashem will then allow the most brilliant and magnificent Beit Hamikdash to descend from the highest spiritual planes to its natural, physical location on Har HaBayit.
May we all merit to witness it very, very soon.
