On Tuesday evening, the seventh night of Chanukah, (and Rosh Chodesh Tevet), the Temple Institute conducted a practice run of the kindling of the seven branched Menorah that stands in the Holy Temple. The event was actually the climax of a week-long operation that had been meticulously planned in advance. Several select olive oil producers from Judea and Samaria were chosen to harvest and process their olives according to the specific halachot (laws) regarding the production of the pure olive oil for the Temple Menorah. On Tuesday evening the producers gathered together at the Zion Gate entry into Jerusalem's old city. From there they marched into the old city's Jewish Quarter, to the Menorah Square, where the golden Menorah created by the Temple Institute stands, carrying jars containing their specially produced olive oil.
Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, founder of the Temple Institute, oversaw the lighting ceremony, explaining in detail the halachot of preparing and kindling the seven Menorah lamps. The Menorah was kindled by the kohen Rabbi Eliezer Goldschmidt, dressed in priestly garments. It should be noted that the Menorah that was kindled was not the golden Menorah created by the Temple Institute and ready for use in the Holy Temple. That Menorah can only be kindled in its properly designated place inside the Holy Temple. A second Menorah, made specially for the evening's undertaking was used.
At 3:15 in the video we see the kohen fill the lamps with oil. At 4:00 he makes the appropriate blessing for kindling the Holy Temple menorah. At 4:45 we see the kohen kindle the western lamp, and using the lit wick of the western lamp he proceeds to light the adjacent wick. Repeating this five more times, he kindles all seven lamps.
The organizers of the event previously had sent out invitations to the Minister of Religious Services and the mayor of Jerusalem to join in the practice run, asking for their authorization to conduct the lighting ceremony on the Temple Mount, in the precise location where the Menorah is intended to stand. They noted that the entire ceremony could take place with out harming any existing structure on the Temple Mount. The invitations went unanswered.
This rehearsal was yet another important step toward the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and a loud and clear expression of the people of Israel's burning desire to perform the daily commandment of kindling the Temple Menorah and renewing the Divine service.
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4 дек 2013
