Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Calls for Spiritual Building of the Temple Ahead of Tisha B'Av

In a lesson delivered ahead of Tisha B'Av, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu emphasized the spiritual approach to participating in the building of the Temple today. He referenced a Midrash from the prophet Ezekiel, who questioned God about how to engage in the Temple's construction during the exile. The response given was that "its great call in the Torah is like its building." Rabbi Eliyahu explained that studying the Torah's descriptions of the Temple, its significance, and its spiritual value is considered by God as if one is physically building it.

He stressed that this study is not merely an external act but involves genuine desire and anticipation. According to Rabbi Eliyahu, when people truly understand the importance of the Temple and burn with desire to see it rebuilt, this spiritual yearning will lead to its actual construction, God willing. His message encourages the public to engage deeply with the Temple's spiritual meaning as a path to its eventual rebuilding.