Kinus Torah about the Beis Hamikdash

On Tuesday, 5th of Av, over 150 men gathered in Crown Heights for a Kinus Torah dedicated to the theme of the Beis Hamikdash.

Following the hora’a of the Rebbe to learn about the Beis Hamikdash during the Three Weeks, Merkaz Anash has been arranging yearly gatherings to learn about this timely topic. The event was organized by Rabbi Shmuel Pevzner, associate director of Merkaz Anash, whose father Harav Avraham Baruch Pevzner established such yearly gatherings since the Rebbe’s hora’a in 5735.

Rabbi Pevzner noted that since the Rebbe’s hora’a there has become an increasing interest in this subject by Yidden everywhere, and many seforim, both old and new, have been published as a result.

The program began with Rabbi Yosef Shmukler, Rosh Kolel of the Chabad Kolel in Midtown Manhattan, who spoke about the mitzvah to guard the Beis Hamikdash. Though it was done for honor and not for protection, it was only guarded during the night. The reason for this being that the presence of the Yidden during the day is in itself a fulfillment of honoring the Beis Hamikdash.

Next spoke Rabbi Shmuel Heber, a renowned magid shiur in Crown Heights, who captivated the crowd with a detailed overview on the halachos of entering the Har Habayis. He discussed the various opinions on the location of the azara, and the requirements necessary to enter each specific area. He suggested that even if all issues were settled it would still be forbidden to enter the Har Habyis, due to the essential tumah status that Chazal placed on anyone not particular about tumah and tahara. He concluded with a vort from the Arizal whose Yahrtziet was on that day.

Then Rabbi Leizer Teitelbaum, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator at OK Kashrus, spoke about the preparation of the ketores and the amounts used each day and each year.

This was followed by a siyum on Maseches Kidushin by Rabbi Shimon Hellinger, director of Merkaz Anash. Rabbi Hellinger expounded on the concluding mishna which speaks about learning a trade or fully dedicating one's time to Torah. While Rebbi Meir advises that one teach his child a trade, Rebbi Nehora'i, who Chazal say elsewhere is the same Rebbi Meir, says that he will only teach his child Torah, which will then protect him throughout his life. The Rebbe reconciles them: The mainstream directive for the majority is to learn a trade, but Rebbi Meir himself, and those who choose his elevated way of life, can completely dedicate themselves to Torah. At the same time, the Rebbe denounced preparing youngsters with "skills for life." For even those who will earn parnassa through a trade should only begin preparing for this shortly before it becomes necessary; anything else, writes the Rebbe, is a tremendous lack of bitachon.

The event concluded with a video showing some talks of the Rebbe on the Beis Hamikdash and a virtual tour of the Beis Hamikdash.