TEMPLE INSTITUTE COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION OF MODULAR STONE ALTAR FOR THE TEMPLE MOUNT

 The Temple Institute has recently completed construction of a stone altar ('mizbeach' in Hebrew) that can be broken down and swiftly transported to the exact original location of the altar on the Temple Mount, in order to facilitate the smooth and rapid resumption of the Divine service, upon the first opportunity that presents itself.

The completion of this altar represents the culmination of over a decade of intense research, study and experimentation on the methodology and technical aspects of the Biblical requirements of the stone altar.

A recently published news item in the Hebrew media has been translated into English and reported on major news outlets around the world, describing the new stone altar. Some of these reports contain inaccuracies, while others reflect views that are not true to the Torah commandments concerning the stone altar, nor do they reflect the intentions of the Temple Institute.

In light of these rumors and speculation, the Temple Institute has been flooded with requests to verify and clarify the status of the altar project. The Temple Institute hereby clarifies that the altar was completed in late 2014, and was unveiled before a packed audience on the seventh night of Chanukah as part of the public Golden Menorah kindling demonstration that was conducted by the Temple Institute. Photos of the altar were posted on this Facebook page at the time.

The height of the altar is five amot. An 'amah' is a Biblical measure, the equivalent of approximately 46 - 48 centimeters (18 -19 inches). The length of the 'kevesh' (ascent ramp) incline which leads to the top of the altar is sixteen amah. The altar was built according to the Biblical requirements as described by the Rambam (Maimonides). Its size represents the minimal required dimensions for a valid, functioning altar. The architectural schematic for the altar was drawn up by Shmuel Balzam, the same renowned architect who is currently drawing up working blueprints for the Holy Temple Sanctuary, a Temple Institute initiative which was unveiled and funded by last summer's successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. The preliminary stages of that monumental project will be presented publicly for the first time on next week's International Temple Mount Awareness Day event, (March 25th).

The new altar is based on a unique construction, one that fully embraces all the halachic requirements concerning the stone altar, but also allows for its easy dis-assemble and re-assemble on the precise location of the original stone altar that stood to the east of the Holy Temple Sanctuary. Indeed, the emphasis of this project has been for the scholars and scientists of the Temple Institute to 're-learn' the lost art of constructing an altar according to the Divine instructions. The people of Israel are required to build an altar exclusively on the site of the original altar on Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount. When circumstances become favorable, this new altar can be quickly re-assembled on the proper location, enabling the Divine service to be resumed without delay.

The altar consists of an outer frame of earthen bricks, oven-baked to withstand the extreme heat of the altar when in use. This outer frame is filled with natural stones, untouched by metal implements, as per Torah imperative. The outer brick frame is covered with a thin white plaster, as was done with the altar that stood in the Holy Temple courtyard. The altar 'yesod' (base) contains the two portals to accept the blood which is poured on the altar base as an intrinsic element of the service of the offerings. The top of the altar is "crowned" with four "horns," one in each corner, as described in Torah.

The altar is temporarily on display in the Temple Institute's Jerusalem old city exhibition. Most of the brick frame of the altar has been left exposed, for instructive purposes, as well as the bottom edge of the altar ramp, which is cut away to expose the stone "fill" of the altar.

The completion of the altar creates a new reality for the people of Israel. The'Korban Pesach' (Passover offering) which is commanded by Divine decree (see Exodus 12) to be performed in three weeks' time (on the 14th day of Nisan, this year April 3rd), does not require that the Holy Temple be standing, but it does require that the stone altar be standing in its precise intended location to receive the blood collected from the Passover offerings. Now that an altar has been built that can be easily deconstructed and quickly reconstructed on the Temple Mount, no halachic obstacles stand in the way of the performance of the Passover offering at the place of the stone altar on the Temple Mount for the first time in 2000 years. TI