Melbourne Studies Beis Hamikdosh

Photos: Moishe Wolf Photography

On Motzai Shabbos Matos-Masei the Melboune community gathered for Kollel Menachem’s annual Beis Hamikdosh Evening and Melave Malka.

Following the Rebbe’s Horaa, each year before Tisha B’av the Kollel hosts an evening of learning, focusing on different aspects of the Beis Hamikdosh. This year’s program drew on the theme of Hakhel. This year, participants turned out in large numbers to hear 3 fascinating presentations.

Opening the evening was Rabbi Yisroel Lebenholc, a Kollel Avreich, on the topic “A wooden Bimah in a Wood-free Zone”. He explained the reason why wood could not be used in the Beis Hamikdosh and why there were exceptions, one of them being the wooden Bimah used during Hakhel. Rabbi Lebenholc left off with a message of the need for using a “Bimah”, which represents pride and strength, in our Avodas Hashem.

The second presentation, by a fellow Avreich, Rabbi Doobie Lisker centered on the lost Aron. Citing historical and contemporary sources, Rabbi Lisker examined the many theories of what may have occurred. Concluding with the Rambam’s opinion as explained by the Rebbe, he brought it down into a practical lesson in the personal Beis Hamikdosh of our lives.

To conclude the evening, Rosh Hakollel, Rabbi Yonason Johnson discussed the Hakhel Year and its connection to the Beis Hamikdosh. Rabbi Johnson analyzed the Torah sources to identify where in the Beis Hamikdosh Hakhel actually took place and why.

The attendees enjoyed a delicious Melave Malka spread of soup, salads, quiches and fresh bagels.

The evening was generously dedicated by Rabbi and Mrs Sholom Mendel Kluwgant in honor of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and by Rabbi and Mrs Avrohom Glick לע”נ זאב אריה בן יבלחט”א הרה”ח שניאור זלמן.

In another Peulah during the Three Weeks, Kollel Menachem produced a daily Beis Hamikdosh thought.

The daily thought would explain an aspect of the Beis Hamikdosh design and a short inspirational lesson that we can learn from it. The daily thoughts were composed by Rabbi Yonason Johnson and were disseminated to hundreds of subscribers from around the world via social media.

A sample features below. To read the previous daily posts, visit www.kollelmenachem.com.au/beishabechira

A Giant Doorway that is Never Closed
Hashem says to the Jewish people “if you will open for me (an opening) the size of the point of a needle, then I will open for you (an opening) like the doorway of the Ulam”.

The Ulam was an antechamber to the Heichal. The other doors and gateways of the Beis Hamikdosh were 20 Amos tall and10 Amos wide (approximately 10×5 metres). The great doorway of the Ulam was double, standing 40 Amos tall and 20 Amos wide!

All of the other doorways had doors which would be closed. Due to its sheer size, there was no door in the entrance of the Ulam. The doorway was always open, with only a massive curtain to give privacy.

The point of a needle is infinitesimally small. In spiritual growth, if we make even the tiniest opening through our own efforts, Hashem will help us in an incomparably expansive measure. This gateway is always open. All we need to do is take the first smallest of steps.

Like the opening of the Ulam, Hashem’s assistance and His blessings of success will not only be expansive, but will flow directly to us, with no doors to stand in their way.