This time of year, the Jewish people take on many additional practices to mourn the destruction of the Temple.  Judaism places a tremendous amount of emphasis on having a Temple, and large sections of the Torah and Halacha deal with the Temple and Temple-related services. Since its destruction, the sages instituted numerous customs to remember the previous Temples and yearn for the third one.

But what does having a Temple truly mean for us? Especially in the modern era, where so many live in prosperity and freedom, surrounded by remarkable advancements in science and technology. Why should we focus on what might seem like an outdated concept, such as having a Temple?

Below are nine reasons that highlight the enduring significance of the Temple. These reasons are not just historical or theoretical—they embody spiritual, national, and universal aspirations that remain deeply relevant today.

1. Return of Divine Presence (Shechinah)

When the Jewish nation builds the Temple, God’s presence, as it were, rests within it. “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it” (Psalm 132:14). His presence is not only revealed in the Temple but also within the nation itself. “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” (Shemot 25:8)

The return of the Shechinah is promised in the third Temple, serving as a public affirmation of God’s eternal bond with the Jewish people. “I will place My Sanctuary among them forever. My Presence shall rest over them; I will be their God, and they shall be My people… And the nations shall know that I sanctify Israel…” (Ezekiel 37:26–28)

2. National Unity

Just as synagogues unite communities by bringing members together, the Temple unites the entire nation. Three times a year, all Jews are called to ascend to the Temple together, fostering national unity in the service of God. “Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.” (Shemot 23:17)

Even when Jews are not physically present in the Temple, the Tamid (daily offering) and Korbanot Tzibbur (communal offerings) were brought on behalf of the entire nation, funded through a mandatory financial contribution. (Shemot 30:16)

3. Spiritual Inspiration

Witnessing the Temple service, particularly on Yom Kippur, could inspire individuals to repent and grow spiritually. The Temple experience was not only awe-inspiring but also deeply joyous, as the Talmud states, “whoever did not see the rejoicing at the Simchat Beit HaShoeva has never seen rejoicing in his life.” (Sukkah 51a)

4. It’s a Mitzvah and Leads to More Mitzvahs

At its core, building a Temple is a mitzvah. Moreover, it enables the Jewish people to fulfill many additional mitzvot. Over one-third of the 613 mitzvot are dependent on the existence of the Temple. The Rambam lists 279 mitzvot (positive and negative) connected to the Temple, korbanot, and ritual purity in Sefer HaMitzvot.

5. Universal Atonement and Forgiveness

While forgiveness is possible without a Temple, the Torah emphasizes that the Temple service provides atonement for the sins of both individuals and the nation. “It [the offerings] shall be accepted by Him to make atonement.” (Vayikra 1:4)

“And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.” (Vayikra 4:20)

The Temple also served as a source of atonement for the nations of the world. The Gemara in Sukkah 55b explains that the seventy bulls offered during Sukkot atoned for the sins of the seventy nations. It rhetorically asks, now that the Temple is destroyed, who atones for them?

6. World Peace

The Temple was intended as a spiritual center not just for Jews, but for all nations. “For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 56:7

It stood as a beacon of divine wisdom and justice, spreading Torah and ethical teachings far and wide. In the prophetic vision of the Third Temple, its rebuilding ushers in an era of world peace and justice. “And many nations shall go to it… and He shall judge among the nations… and they shall beat their swords into plowshares.” (Isaiah) 2:2–4

Reverence for the Torah’s ethical teachings, combined with the awe of the Third Temple, will render war obsolete. “For out of Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem… Nation shall not lift up sword against nation.” (Micah 4:1–3)

6. Fulfillment of Prophesy 

The Temple’s rebuilding is central to numerous prophecies about the final redemption.

“In the last days… the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established… and all nations shall flow to it.” (Isaiah 2:2)

“Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in days of old…” (Malachi 3:4)

“Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 8:3)

When prophecies are fulfilled, they sanctify God’s name by affirming the truth of His messengers. “And you shall say on that day: ‘Praise GOD, proclaim the divine name. Make God’s deeds known among the peoples; Declare that the divine name is exalted.” (Isaiah 12:4)

7. Justice and Truth

“There were three courts there: one at the entrance to the Temple Mount, one at the entrance to the Temple Court, and the Great Sanhedrin in the Chamber of Hewn Stones.” The Mishna explains that these courts were integral to the Temple’s function.

“And you shall do according to the word that they will tell you from that place which the Lord will choose.” (Devarim 17:8–11) The Torah specifically designates the location of the future court, underscoring its importance.

In the era of the Third Temple, Zechariah tells us that, “Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth.”

Wisdom emanating from the Temple will guide many nations, as it says, “For out of Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:1-3)

“Many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” (Isaiah) 2:3

“The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)

9. End of Exile

Just as the Egyptian exile and redemption had both spiritual and physical dimensions, so does the current exile. While the physical aspect of exile has largely come to an end, the spiritual exile persists.

The rebuilding of the Temple would signify the beginning of the end of this spiritual exile. The Ramban explains that a king who rebuilds the Temple, among other criteria, is definitively considered the Mashiach.

In conclusion, the rebuilding of the Third Temple is not just a symbolic act or a nostalgic return to ancient practices—it is the heartbeat of Jewish destiny and a hope for humanity’s future.

The fact that for most of us, articulating the impact of its absence is elusive in many ways demonstrates just how great a void it leaves in our existence. Its absence is felt in ways we may not always recognize, but it leaves a profound void in our spiritual lives. The sages teach that since the Temple’s destruction, an iron wall separates the Jewish people from God. This wall is not just a barrier—it is a wound, a fracture in the relationship between the Creator and His people. It leaves us yearning for something we can barely imagine, a closeness we have not yet experienced but somehow still know we need.

Without the Temple, we risk losing sight of our higher purpose, placing too much value on human achievements while neglecting the divine connection that gives life its deepest meaning. The Temple is not just a building; it is the bridge between heaven and earth, the place where the infinite touches the finite, and where humanity can truly feel the presence of God.

This disconnection makes it difficult to envision a Temple-centered reality, let alone yearn for it. But the sages, in their wisdom, gave us practices to keep the Temple alive in our hearts—not as a memory of the past, but as a vision for the future. They remind us that the world as we know it is incomplete, and that we must never stop striving for a reality where the divine presence, truth, and justice are fully revealed.

The Third Temple is the promise of a world transformed—a world of unity, peace, and closeness to God. It is the answer to the deepest longing of our souls, the fulfillment of a dream that has sustained the Jewish people for millennia. And so, we mourn its absence, not out of despair, but out of hope—hope for a better, more connected reality, where the iron wall is shattered, and the light of the divine shines brightly once more.