In just two days, we will sit on the floor, dim the lights, and enter the quiet grief of Tisha B’Av. We will recite Kinot (lamentations) and mourn the loss of the Temple in Jerusalem.

But if we are honest with ourselves, many modern Jews face an uncomfortable barrier to this grief.

Our world today is vastly different from the world that existed the last time a Temple stood in Jerusalem. Expecting that our society will simply rewind the clock to an era where animal sacrifices are seen as an essential part of divine worship is simply not realistic. With all due respect to those who suggest we will return to that ancient norm, the vast majority of Jews do not view a return to the altar of slaughter as a step forward.

We desperately need a rebrand of the Temple – one that honors our tradition while speaking to the maturity of the modern soul.

The Retaining Wall Stand-In

About 25 years ago, I traveled with a group of colleagues on a one-day gibush (bonding trip) to Haifa. We visited the grounds of the Bahá’í Gardens, which cascade down the slopes of Mount Carmel. As we stood atop the mountain, one of my colleagues stared out, completely struck with awe by the magnificent shrine and its pristine, breathtaking grounds.

I asked her what she was thinking. She looked at me and said, “Looking at the grand majesty of that building, you can imagine the majesty of their faith.”

I nodded and responded, “And that is precisely why we need to rebuild the Temple.”

For years, I have watched tourists from every corner of the globe travel thousands of miles to Jerusalem. They tour the Kotel, perhaps walk up to the Temple Mount, and view the remnants of Jewish history – they come to marvel at ruins.

What is the message they get about Judaism? Where is the........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)