More War

After two weeks of mounting tension and sporadic clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters, a showdown is expected when Friday prayers are called on the Temple Mount at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's old city.

The First Temple built by Dovid and Shlomo 3000 years ago on the Temple Mount lasted 410 years before destroyed by Nebecanezar of Babylon; the Temple was built to be a place of peace where all nations could assemble before God; tomorrow is the last of the seven days of Succot during which 70 added sacrifices happened in the Temple representing the 70 nations of the world.

The sacrifices were not some barbaric exercise in ignorance, but a real gesture of understanding to the Creator that the intention of the entire world is to subjugate our animal nature and sacrifice ourselves to making creation a better place for all.

The huge stone altar on which the sacrifices took place had to be hewn without the use metal because metal is the implement of war. Shlomo who was very wised showed to builders a worm that was able to cleave the stone–it is called the Shamir. The mammoth stones of the Temple wall were each set back one inch so the wall would not appear to be falling and thus cause sudden terror.

Tomorrow, the last day of Succot is known as HaShana Raba/Great Salvation. May it be so!