How do We Understand the Vision of the Future Temple as Described in the Book of Ezekiel?
According to the great sages of Israel, it is a positive commandment for the people of Israel to rebuild the Holy Temple conforming to the dimensions, characteristics and attributes of the Second Temple. Thus, although there were differences between the First and Second Temples, and vast differences between both of these and the vision of Ezekiel – it is the details of the Second Temple that are binding upon Israel for all time. This is why the majority of the Temple Institute’s work and research, both in artistic representation as well as actual Temple restoration, centers on the aspects of the Second Temple. These details and dimensions are clearly described in the Mishneh of Tractate Middot (literally, “attributes” or “measures”) of the Babylonian Talmud. This tractate also includes the dimensions and layout of the Temple Mount, and discusses many matters applicable to both the Holy Temple and the Mount. In his introduction to this tractate, the great sage Maimonides writes that its
