Jerusalem – According to The Vilna Gaon, The 3rd Bies HaMikdash Is On Its Way

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    Churva Renovations November 2008Jerusalem – If the 18th-century rabbinic authority the Vilna Gaon was right, on March 16, 2010, construction will begin on the third Temple. His projection states that the auspicious day will coincide with the third completion of the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter.

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    The great day is at hand: On March 15, the reconstructed Hurva Synagogue, considered the most important house of prayer in Jerusalem will be rededicated. It was last destroyed in the War of Independence.

    However, during the reconstruction process, the Hurva has become a bone of contention between ultra-Orthodox and other Jerusalemites.

    The conflict is over what kind of institution the Hurva will be. A group of secular and national-religious Jerusalemites say that if the state does not act quickly, the Hurva will become another ultra-Orthodox synagogue, where women and tourists are unwelcome.

    “The government has invested millions in the restoration of the synagogue. It is a place of special value to tourists. The Jewish Quarter has dozens of synagogues and it doesn’t need another one,” said Tehila Nahlon, an activist.

    The debate reflects wider issues of identity facing the Jewish Quarter, which has become increasingly ultra-Orthodox in recent years.

    City councilwoman Rachel Azariya said, “The Hurva must not become just another synagogue, and the Jewish Quarter just another Haredi neighborhood.”

    The Hurva, whose name means “ruin,” was initially built by disciples of Rabbi Judah Hahasid in the early 18th century. It was destroyed shortly thereafter by Muslims demanding the return of loans given to build the synagogue. After it was rebuilt in the mid-19th century, it became the most important synagogue in the country, but it was blown up in 1948 by the Jordan Legion a few days before the fall of the Jewish Quarter in the War of Independence.

    In 2001, after years of debate, the government decided to restore the building.

    The historic building, whose famous dome one more dominates the skyline of the Jewish Quarter, has now been meticulously recreated, including furnishings and wall frescoes.

    However, secular and Zionist Orthodox Jerusalemites are concerned that two developments could lead to the synagogue becoming ultra-Orthodox.

    The first was the appointment of a rabbi for the synagogue – which happened about three years ago, when it was still a concrete shell – Rehovot’s chief rabbi Simcha Hacohen Kook, who is considered close to the ultra-Orthodox non-Hassidic leader Rabbi Yosef Elyashiv. He was chosen by a panel of rabbis, with the blessing of Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.

    “A government company built the synagogue. There are procedures for how people are chosen. They made this choice to prevent the appointment of a Zionist Orthodox rabbi,” said Anat Mufkadi, a member of the group concerned about the synagogue. Rabbi Elyashiv reportedly told Haredi journalist Shlomo Kook, the synagogue rabbi’s nephew, that the expedited appointment was intended to “stop up gaps,” comments understood to mean keeping a Zionist Orthodox rabbi from getting the post.

    The CEO of the Jewish Quarter Development Company, which built the syangogue, Nissim Arazi, who said he was surprised by the rabbi’s appointment, refused to attend his investiture ceremony three years ago. “It’s not clear to me why a rabbi is necessary when there isn’t even a synagogue and we don’t know who the congregation will be,” he told Haaretz a few days ago. However, Arazi said he believes Kook is a worthy candidate.

    The second development is that Arazi is soon to be replaced, along with five out of the eight board members of the Jewish Quarter Development Company. By law, the new board members are to be chosen by Housing Minister Ariel Atias, a Shas member. The cabinet has also given the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, a government body headed by the Western Wall rabbi, Shmuel Rabinovich, a say in the choice of the new board members. Under Rabinovich’s tenure, some have said the Western Wall area has become more ultra-Orthodox.

    The activists say the reconstructed synagogue should present the historical saga of the Jewish Quarter, display archaeological finds unearthed there, and be fully accessible to tourists, men and women together. The group wants to prevent a round-the-clock kollel (yeshiva for married men) from opening there, which would preclude any other activity.

    However, for the ultra-Orthodox, the matter is unequivocal: “The question is whether this will be a synagogue and a house of study, or a display of all sorts of foolishness,” the Jewish Quarter’s rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl said on an ultra-Orthodox Web site.

    The journalist, Kook, said: “My uncle is close to all communities, he is not a classic Haredi or a fanatic. He doesn’t expect the site to become a Haredi synagogue with 50 prayers a day. He understands that it’s a different synagogue. But it’s important to him that it be more a synagogue than a museum.”


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    65 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    binyan ne’arim stirah!!!!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    If it becomes a tourist attraction not only won’t The 3rd Bies HaMikdash get started on March 16 but it will delay it….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I think the Vilna Gaon’s prediction has been preempted by the guy VIN wrote the story about several weeks ago who has established a fundraising group to collect money from messianic jews and christians to build a new beis hamikdash on har habyais but to incorporate all sorts of modern design features including parking and internet access (i.e. in case Moishiach announces his arrival via Twitter). I don’t think he has taken into account the Vilna Gaon’s March 2010 prediction since his timeline is about a year or two later.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    We want the real Beis Hamikdosh!

    Random Jew
    Random Jew
    14 years ago

    See, this is the problem. No one wants to work with anyone else. Why can’t it be both? You have a small kollel inside, with a place for minyanim, and a museum in another section. Many many places have a main area, than also a place fr minyanim and what not.

    Suggestion "Chabad  House"
    Suggestion "Chabad House"
    14 years ago

    Suggestion: Let the Shul become a “Chabad House” thus it will facilitate both sides. On one hand it would be domained as “Orthodox establishment” with all Halachik requirements. On the other; it would allow tourist and visitors to visit the site without discriminating against the unaffiliated.

    Think about it……..Im sure the “Gra” would not mind…lol

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    You sit in the land of The King in the palace of The King, if not to worship and to pray to Him, then let them all move to Uganda or some other place they choose.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The third beis hamikdash is already built. It is waiting for to receive it.

    Oncefrum
    Oncefrum
    14 years ago

    I hope nobody takes this stuff seriously. I remember Y2K, when everybody thought Moshiakh was coming because ‘Ki soovoi el hooretz’ is B’gematria 2000. Ridiculously laughable.

    Skeptical
    Skeptical
    14 years ago

    How does “im kol zeh achakeh lo b’chol yom she’yavoy” fit in with this article?
    Also, If Hashem feels we are/aren’t ready for mochiach, He has many means and ways of making the completion come sooner/later than expected.

    WE JUST HAVE TO DO OUR BIT – our Hishatdlus is all that we need. If Hakodoish Baruch Hu deems it fit, moshiach can come even if the churva shul is nowhere near completion!

    We must get more invovled with Torah and Mitzvos, and Moshiach will come soooooon!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Ther Touro Shul in RI has such a workout. Why not here?

    Harav Hagaon
    Harav Hagaon
    14 years ago

    Why not run the Shul the way the followers of Reb Yehuda Hachosid who originally built it would have run it.

    Yes, if they were alive today they’d be called: “ultra-orthodox” “chareidi” “extreme-ultra orthodox” and so forth.

    Let’s run it the way it was originally intended.

    Adolf Hitler, Yemach Shemo, wanted to make a museum of the destroyed Jewish people. So too, some secularists want to make a museum out of what could be a lively shul. You decide which is better!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Maybe what the Gra meant was that with all the politics involved only Moshiach can settle the re-stablishment issue, and so far this looks like another case of “chochom adif minavi” and that it will NOT be rededicated anytime soon, barring the arrival of the messiah…

    Donny
    Donny
    14 years ago

    Maybe the Vilna Gaon was sending a message. Jews are fighting over this shul. Maybe the Gaon meant that when we have achdus, and don’t fight, then the shul will be finished properly, and then Mashiach can come.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    does anyone have a source or marei makom for the statement of the Vilna Gaon?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The second Bais Hamikdosh was destroyed due to “sinas chinam”. It seems that regarding the “Churva” this bickering is stil in motion (thus the appropriate name)
    So given current state of achdus, the Gra’s prediction is on shaky grounds R”L.
    (I wonder if we need to pre-empt Moshiach so he shouldn’t be from the other camp)

    The Truth
    The Truth
    14 years ago

    1) Please can someone explain what the Vilna Gaon actually said / wrote, or where I can find it?

    2) If you are rebuilding a synagogue – surely it should be for the purpose of davening and not become a museum. At least the primary function should be a shul.

    3) This whole article sounds like its another secular left wing propaganda and to try and attack anything to do with yiddishkeit.

    5T Resident
    5T Resident
    14 years ago

    In my humble opinion, the third B”H must be constructed with the same features that are incorporated into modern shuls so that it can accomodate Jews from all different walks of life and with all kinds of different needs.

    (1) It will definitely need to be wheelchair accessible and provide facilities for the physically-handicapped (such as elevators, special restroom stalls, et al).

    (2) With so many Yidden reliant on their cellphones, BlackBerries, iPhones, et al, there will need to be a Wi-Fi accessible area somewhere inside.

    (3) There will need to be a website so that people who live overseas and can’t make the trip to the B”H can order korbanos online and so that people can easily find out the z’manim for davening.

    This is all a joke, of course. In truth, frum Jews today are so fractured and so opinionated that the second a shovel is put into the ground, some group of Yidden somewhere will give a geshrei that it wasn’t done al pi halacha and that their way, whatever it is, is the only right way to do it.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    “Why not run the Shul the way the followers of Reb Yehuda Hachosid who originally built it would have run it.”

    I hate to burst your bubble, but Yehuda Chassid who opened the shul (not to be confused with Rav Yehuda HAChassid), was a follower of Shabesai Tzvi. I am not sure that you want it the way his followers would have run it.

    Learn a little history.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    wait, who gave israel the right to rebuild this? its their fault it was demolished, and it was always a Kollel shul. so if its rebuilt they must return it to its rightful owners: the Jewish jews.

    Chelmite
    Chelmite
    14 years ago

    It is just too bad if the Parvahs don’t like anything or any place that is too Jewish or too Charedi. Maybe they plan on picketing
    against the Third Beis HaMikdosh, however it will be Manifested.
    They are fighting a loosing battle. The Erev Rah and whomever is still oppossing the Ultimate and Authentic Geulah are fighting now
    because on some level they perceive what is coming! This is their last Hurrah, Better join the winning side now while you can.
    A Gutten Erev Moschiach

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    won’t need wheelchairs etc in moshiach’s tzeiten!!

    2010
    2010
    14 years ago

    isnt it a bit weird that the mayans, a very old culture of sorts taht were connected to all sorts of real kishuv (magic) said that 2010 will be the “end” of the world. and now we hear that the vilna gaon’s premonition will fall out in 2010 as well. people start doing teshuva!

    Snag
    Snag
    14 years ago

    So, did the Gaon not expect Moshiach to come every day during his lifetime?

    Shtissim mit lockshen.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I can already predict that when the 3rd Beis Hamikdash will be built, VIN blog will crash from all the bickering and arguments between all of the different sects of Jews on who should lead or what should be.

    Comprimise of the century
    Comprimise of the century
    14 years ago

    What if the Chareidim are allowed the appointment of the Rabbi until the time the Gra predicted Moshiach will be revealed. At that time Moshiach will make all future decisions on who should be the Rabbi. If Chas Vchalila Moshiach is not here by the predicted date, the appointment goes to whoever the state appointed agency decides. This is a win-win for everyone!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Still waiting for one person to provide the source. So much all this talk does without a source to even see the vilna gaon inside.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I’d love to see this Gaon inside. Somehow I doubt it exists.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Agree with the Rabbis, especially with the meaning that this great synagogue holds. When it comes to holy places, only the most stringent should be taken into account. It doesn’t matter what one’s opinions are – this a makom kadosh and I wholeheartedly agree with these Rabbis. Otherwise, like with so many things today in Israel, it leads down to a slippery slope, if you give in to this little thing or that. It is not a museum, but a holy place and if there would be common sense, there would be achdut here among all Jews, and that would hasten the arrival of Moshiach. I pray that the Vilna Gaon’s holy prediction will be a reality and we will have our Bais Hamikdash speedily.

    chief doofis
    chief doofis
    14 years ago

    The G’mara in Perek Chelek, lists many signs that are supposed precursors of Mashiach. These include Parthian horses tethered in front of Roman forts, etc. The G’mara concludes that one ought not seek out these signs, indeed, it says very nasty things about people who try to do so.. Let’s do our best to bring about the fulfillment of the various prophecies. Let’s do as many Mitzvot as possible, learn when we can, try to make it to a minyan three times day, and very importantly, get along with each other. The Ribbono Shel Olam will take care of the rest.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Still no one brought forth a mkor for this gra.

    yoel
    yoel
    14 years ago

    Still waiting for the mekor??

    YitzchokAizik
    YitzchokAizik
    14 years ago

    March 16h? Haven’t you heard about the jewish calendar? It’s aleph Nisson.
    Am Hatzim everybody! Go get some real Jewish values!

    great to be weird
    great to be weird
    14 years ago

    1) the building isnt supposed to be actuallly finished till 2012, only the outside is supposed to be done by the deadline….
    2)the mayans prediction for the end of the world, is also for 2012….

    shlomo zalman
    shlomo zalman
    14 years ago

    There is no makor for this Gra, just like there was no makor for the last time the Gra predicted Moshiach, about 24 years ago. These predictions , whatever their source, are ridiculous and only fools believe them. For the record, Rav Svei is reported to have predicted Moshiach for 2009. Time is running out on that silly prediction too.

    S----ing in my p-nts
    S----ing in my p-nts
    14 years ago

    I was trembling when I saw these healines! Hopefully I will be one of the nidchei yisroel who will be gathered, and not cast away. I must atleast do what I think is my best, to do t’shuva.
    It’s a bit soon!

    Aryeh
    Aryeh
    14 years ago

    Now I understand why chaza”l tell us that the 3rd BH”M will be built by Hashem!

    Reb Yid
    Reb Yid
    14 years ago

    According to the article–

    1. Women aren’t allowed in shul?

    2. Rav Smicha Kook is ultra?