<div>ET writes:</div>
<div>While his statement is true, it is also irrelevant to the<br>discussion, since those currently visiting the Har Habayit are not<br>engaged in the building of the Beis Hamikdash.<br> </div>
<div>Well, this is a bit problematic.</div>
<div>a) I don't know (does anyone?) exactly how the rebuilding process will begin (if it hasn't already). Flash of light, white donkey, victory in 1967? See below.</div>
<div>b) rebuilding also might mean simply dealing with an Islamic presence bimkom hamikdash (see the Tzuf Dvash, "Sha'ar HeChatzer", Para. 339).</div>
<div>c) already in 1969, Rav Shmuel Hacohen Weingarten, at the Kinnus Torah Sh'B'al Peh at Mossad HaRav Kook, suggested that a state of war exists and every ascent is part of reclaiming our ownership of the place similar to the Gemara on "halicha b'shvil".
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<div>d) would preventing the building of additional mosques or a fifth Minaret as now proposed by Jordan constitute engaged in rebuilding the Temple? Would membership in machon HaMikdash?</div>
<div>e) or, to paraphrase the Chofetz Chaim, "what are you doing today to rebuild the Mikdash?" Some are learning Seder Kodshim, others belong to the Dr. Eilat Mazar's Committee of Archeologists to Prevent Destruction of Temple Mount Artifacts or digging up Ir David to maybe find out how long an Ammah is and others are creating a new norm: Jews ascending the Har Habayit. Not every step forward is in the Bet HaMidrash. There's plenty to do, and plenty a'doing.
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<div>We can skim through Ezra 3 and see how others dealt with it, even though they had 3 ne'vi'im to help, true:</div>
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<div>"the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak...and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon...And they set the altar upon its bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of the countries [ah, they do were tembling], and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt-offerings morning and evening [before the comple Temple was constructed]...From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD; but the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid...They gave money... Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem...[they]appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of the LORD....
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<div><br>-- <br>Yisrael Medad<br>Shiloh<br>Mobile Post Efraim 44830<br>Israel </div>