The Bank Of Israel, Gold, And The Third Temple

Germany in recession? Massive negative yielding global debt, over $30 Trillion? The European Central Bank, Asian central banks and the Federal Reserve in the US, starting another easing cycle, lowering interest rates further? The EU falling into recession? Parliament suspended in Great Britain? New elections on the horizon, and a hard Brexit’s gonna’ come? Italian banks still in trouble? Argentina, the serial defaulter, spiraling down into bankruptcy? The US and China at each other’s economic throats? Japan and South Korea feuding? Trade wars, currency wars, cold wars, hot wars? Global recession or even depression? Iran? Nukes? North Korea?

The world is getting very chaotic...indeed!

But in Israel, even with elections coming up in a few weeks, so far, its an island of calm stability. The Bank of Israel’s Monetary Committee recently decided that the interest rate would stay unchanged at 0.25%.

The bank’s statement was more aggressive though, about future use of monetary policy. “The Monetary Committee’s assessment is that in view of the turnaround in the inflation environment in Israel and in the monetary policies of major central banks, the slowing in the global economy, and the continued appreciation of the shekel, the interest rate will not be increased for an extended period.”

“Moreover, if necessary, the Committee will take additional steps toward making monetary policy even more accommodative [lowering rates], in order to support a process in which inflation will stabilize around the midpoint of the target 1-3% range, and support economic activity [further growth].”

About the world economy, the Bank of Israel stated, “The risks to the global economy have become more severe since the last interest rate decision, mainly in view of the worsening ‘trade war.’ Interest rates were lowered in the US and other economies, and further reductions are expected. In Europe, further monetary accommodation is expected.”

So, for the time being, relative stability. But the Bank of Israel, has a potential serious problem looming. See, all it’s assets are held as a basket of reserve currencies, Dollars, Euros, Yen, Pounds, etc. That’s what backs up the Israeli Shekel. Israel sold all its gold holdings in the early 1960s.

And fiat money, i.e. worthless paper printed by governments, is quickly becoming just that, worthless!

For a while, I’ve been thinking that the Bank of Israel should start buying gold, to diversify the mix of it’s asset holdings, which are only in foreign currency holdings now, primarily US dollars.

Given what’s been taking place in the global economy, the jitters in international markets, do to geo-political risk, the trade wars, and now possibly the beginning of currency wars, it seems wiser than Solomon, and more urgent than ever, for the Bank of Israel to start buying gold, and back up the Shekel with a hard asset.

Gold has historically been a safe-haven asset in times of turmoil.

According to SP Angel Financial Analysts, The long-term outlook for gold remains solid, with the US-China trade war and ‘de-dollarization’ trend expected to keep gold prices elevated. “Long-term uncertainty over the ongoing US-China trade war may push gold higher in the long run,” the firm’s analysts wrote. “A wider trend of ‘de-dollarization’, or central banks buying into alternatives to the dollar including gold, may also strengthen gold prices.” Gold is up about 30% in dollar terms, since August of 2018. It’s at record levels in many currencies.

SP Angel analysts also mentioned the Bank of England governor Mark Carney, who at the Jackson Hole central bankers meeting recently, said “...the dollar’s position as the world’s reserve currency should be challenged.”

According to the World Gold Council, central banks purchased a record $15.7Billion of gold, 374 tonnes, in the first six months of 2019, in an effort to diversify their reserves away from the US dollar as global trade tensions continue to simmer.

Truthfully, its a no-brainer. If countries like China, Russia, Poland, Turkey, and Kazakhstan can be buying gold…

Yes Poland, Turkey and Kazakhstan!!! Why not Israel?

A closely watched recession indicator, the premium on two-year US Treasury Bond yields over 10-year yields, inverted recently, and reached a level not seen since 2007. This inversion, the short-term rate being higher than the long-term rate happens when investors are bidding for longer-term bonds (thus driving down their yields) because they are pessimistic about the short-term prospects for the economy. It has prefaced every recession in the US, since after World War II.

This, along with other factors, clearly indicates the likelihood of a recession in the US, between six months to two years from now. On top of that, the EU’s recession, China’s major slow down, growing trade wars, and the threat of a global recession, all will have a negative impact on the Israeli economy, the value of the Bank of Israel’s foreign currency holdings, and the Shekel value.

But, not if the Shekel was backed by gold. It would only appreciate under such crisis conditions. Israel would be an island of tranquility, in a raging economic sea.

Now, here’s a deeper view as to why the Bank of Israel should start buying gold.

When King David told his son Solomon, about his preparations to build the Holy Temple, he said, “Behold, I have taken much trouble to prepare for the House of the Lord, one hundred thousand talents of gold [about 3,500 tons worth about $1.63Trillion] and one million talents of silver [about 35,000 tons worth about $19.58Billion], and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them” (1 Chronicles 22:14).

King David throughout his rule, stockpiled in his treasury, precious metals, and other resources, for the building of the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple, and the utensils used in it. This preparation, also bolstered the kingdom’s economic clout.

King Solomon ruled from about 970 BCE to 931 BCE, and during this time he is said to have received 25 tons of gold for each of the 39 years of his reign, which would be worth about $48Billion in 2019. Along with the other riches he amassed from taxation and trade, King Solomon’s personal fortune has been estimated to be over $2.2Trillion in today’s money.

King Solomon inherited peace on his borders and a thriving economy from his father. The kingdom was an economic superpower. When the time came for King Solomon to start the construction of the Beit HaMikdash, he had all the resources needed.

Israel should learn from King David and do the same today!

Besides strengthening the Shekel, as the world slides into economic chaos and possibly a global depression, its important to have the precious metals, and other resources ready and available, when the time comes to build the Third Temple.

The Bank of Israel should start purchasing gold now!

 

Ariel Natan Pasko, an independent analyst and consultant, has a Master's Degree specializing in International Relations, Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.

(c) 2019/5779 Pasko

Aliyah: Consolation And The Return Of The Jews To Israel

Have you heard of Kibbutz Galuyot? It means the “ingathering of the exiles”, or the return of Jews to Israel from all the countries of the world, as promised by the Prophets in the Hebrew Bible. Kibbutz Galuyot, is the fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy, and continues unabated in our day.

Aliyah (lit. going up), the immigration by Jews to Israel, rose by 29 percent in the first half of 2019, compared to first half of 2018, 16,005 Olim (new immigrants), made their home in Israel. Many are Russian speakers, from countries that were part of the former Soviet Union or former Eastern Bloc that have not yet joined the European Union. Countries that are facing financial problems, rising nationalism, and crackdowns on civil liberties.

But not all Jews moving to Israel are just fleeing oppression. Many move to Israel to live a fuller Jewish life personally, and to rebuild Jewish national life in the Jewish homeland, as the prophets foretold.

For example, last week a plane load of 242 North American Olim, arrived in Israel. The Aliyah flight was chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Israel’s Aliyah & Absorption Ministry, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel (KKL), and Jewish National Fund-USA.

The new Olim are from 22 US states and two Canadian provinces. They include 21 medical professionals, three sets of twins, and a 28-day-old baby, who will officially become the youngest Oleh to make Aliyah with Nefesh B’Nefesh this summer.

Last week’s Shabbat, known as Shabbat Nachamu, got its name from the week’s Haftarah reading from the prophet Isaiah (ch. 40). The Haftarah followed the weekly Torah reading Va’etchanan in synagogues around the world.

Shabbat Nachamu begins seven weeks of prophetic readings of consolation (Sheva D’Nechamata). They start the Shabbat right after Tisha B’Av (the Jewish people’s national day of mourning over the destruction of Jerusalem their capital city, the Beit HaMikdash on the Temple Mount, and their exile from the land), till Rosh HaShanah (the Hebrew calendar New Year). The prophetic readings promise the Jewish people, their return to the Land of Israel from the exile, leading ultimately to their complete redemption.

The prophet Isaiah opens with, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her, that her time [of exile] has ended...” (Isaiah 40:1-2).

Va’etchanan itself, follows the Torah reading Devarim/Deuteronomy, where Moses began his five week long sermon to the Jewish people, before his death. In it, he summarized the forty year desert experience, reminding the younger generation about to enter the Land of Israel, of the failed mission of the spies. And why, God punished their parent’s generation with not entering the land (for lack of faith in Him and His promise to give them Israel), (Deuteronomy 1:19-46).

In last week’s reading, Va’etchanan, we find nineteen references to the Land of Israel. They include entering, inheriting (a euphemism for conquering), possessing and living in the Promised Israel, or as the Torah calls it several times, HaAretz HaTova (the good land).

Proving the centrality of the Land of Israel to Judaism, and probably the most references to the land, of any parsha in the Torah.

Moses begs God, “let me go over, and see the good land that is on the other side of the Jordan, that goodly mountain (the Temple Mount in Jerusalem – Rashi), and the Lebanon (the Holy Temple – Rashi), (Deuteronomy 3:25).

But God answers no, “...you shall command Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land...” (Deuteronomy 3:28).

Then Moses tells Israel, “...hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land, the Lord, the God of your forefathers, is giving you,” (Deuteronomy 4:1).

Moses continues, “See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession, (Deuteronomy 4:5).

“...the decrees and laws that you shall perform in the land that you are crossing [the Jordan] to inherit,” (Deuteronomy 4:14).

Then Moses returns to why he won’t lead them, “The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land, the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land,” (Deuteronomy 4:21-22).

Moses then warns against sinning and its consequences, “...and have lived long in the land, if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol...that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 4:25-26).

Then Moses tells the Jews, “Because He loved your forefathers and chose their descendants [you] after them, he brought you out of Egypt… [He will] drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you, and bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance...” (Deuteronomy 4:37-38).

He again warns, “Keep His decrees and commandments, which I am giving you today...that you may live long in the land that the Lord your God gives to you for all time,” (Deuteronomy 4:40).

God then tells Moses, “...all the commands, decrees and laws that you shall teach them to do in the land I am giving them to possess.”

And Moses tells Israel, “Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left...so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess,” (Deuteronomy 5:28-30).

Moses reminds them again, “These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live...”

“Listen Israel, and be careful to perform [the commandments], so that it may go well with you, and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your forefathers, promised you…When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you...” (Deuteronomy 6:1-10).

Moses then tells them, “Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it will be good for you, and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised to your forefathers, driving out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said...”

“And in the future, when your son asks you, What is the meaning of the testimonies, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you? Tell him, We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders – great and terrible – on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. He brought us out from there, to bring us in and give us the land he promised on to our ancestors,” (Deuteronomy 6:18-23).

Moses concludes, “When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations, the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you, and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you, and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally.”

“Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy,” (Deuteronomy 7:1-2).

Earlier God had told Moses to warn Israel, “But if you [Israel] do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live,” (Numbers 33:55).

It sounds a lot like the problems Jews suffer from, with Arab terror today!

So, thirty nine years earlier, the spies destroyed the Jewish people’s enthusiasm to enter the Land of Israel. Then, Moses describes God’s promise to bring them into the land, the conditions to successfully live there, i.e. keep His Torah and Mitzvot; conquer the land and drive out the evil inhabitants. Moses then warns that sinning will bring exile, and finally the prophet Isaiah promises consolation will come. He descibes the time the exile will end and the Jewish people’s return to the land will begin.

We are living those prophecies of consolation and return to Israel today…

Now is the time to make Aliyah!

Ariel Natan Pasko, an independent analyst and consultant, has a Master's Degree specializing in International Relations, Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.
(c) 2019/5779 Pasko

Va’etchanan: Consolation And The Return Of The Jews To Israel

This week’s Shabbat, is known as Shabbat Nachamu, based on the week’s Haftarah reading from the prophet Isaiah. The Haftarah follows the weekly Torah reading Va’etchanan in synagogues around the world. It begins seven weeks of prophetic readings of consolation (Sheva D’Nechamata); starting after Tisha B’Av (the Jewish people’s national day of mourning over the destruction of Jerusalem, the Beit HaMikdash on the Temple Mount, and their exile from the land), till Rosh HaShanah (the Hebrew calendar New Year).

The prophet Isaiah opens with, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her time [of exile] has ended...” (Isaiah 40:1-2).

Va’etchanan itself, follows last week’s Torah reading Devarim/Deuteronomy, where Moses began his five week long sermon to the Jewish people, before his death. In it, he summarized the forty year desert experience, reminding the younger generation about to enter the Land of Israel, of the failed mission of the spies. And why, God punished their parent’s generation (for lack of faith in Him and His promise to give them Israel), (Deuteronomy 1:19-46).

In this week’s reading, Va’etchanan, we find nineteen references to the Land of Israel. They include entering, inheriting (a euphemism for conquering), possessing and living in the Promised Israel, or as the Torah calls it several times, HaAretz HaTova (the good land).

Proving the centrality of the Land of Israel to Judaism, and probably the most references to the land, of any parsha in the Torah.

Moses begs God, “let me go over, and see the good land that is on the other side of the Jordan, that goodly mountain (the Temple Mount in Jerusalem – Rashi), and the Lebanon (the Holy Temple – Rashi), (Deuteronomy 3:25).

But God answers no, “...you shall command Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land...” (Deuteronomy 3:28).

Then Moses tells Israel, “...hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land, the Lord, the God of your forefathers, is giving you,” (Deuteronomy 4:1).

Moses continues, “See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession, (Deuteronomy 4:5).

“...the decrees and laws that you shall perform in the land that you are crossing [the Jordan] to inherit,” (Deuteronomy 4:14).

Then Moses returns to why he won’t lead them, “The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land, the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land,” (Deuteronomy 4:21-22).

Moses then warns against sinning and its consequences, “...and have lived long in the land, if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol...that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 4:25-26).

Then Moses tells the Jews, “Because He loved your forefathers and chose their descendants [you] after them, he brought you out of Egypt… [He will] drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you, and bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance...” (Deuteronomy 4:37-38).

He again warns, “Keep His decrees and commandments, which I am giving you today...that you may live long in the land that the Lord your God gives to you for all time,” (Deuteronomy 4:40).

God then tells Moses, “...all the commands, decrees and laws that you shall teach them to do in the land I am giving them to possess.”

And Moses tells Israel, “Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left...so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess,” (Deuteronomy 5:28-30).

Moses reminds them again, “These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live...”

“Listen Israel, and be careful to perform [the commandments], so that it may go well with you, and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your forefathers, promised you…When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you...” (Deuteronomy 6:1-10).

Moses then tells them, “Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it will be good for you, and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised to your forefathers, driving out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said...”

“And in the future, when your son asks you, What is the meaning of the testimonies, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you? Tell him, We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders – great and terrible – on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. He brought us out from there, to bring us in and give us the land he promised on to our ancestors,” (Deuteronomy 6:18-23).

Moses concludes, “When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations, the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you, and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you, and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally.”

“Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy,” (Deuteronomy 7:1-2).

Earlier God had told Moses to warn Israel, “But if you [Israel] do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live,” (Numbers 33:55).

Sounds a lot like today!

So, thirty nine years earlier, the spies destroyed the Jewish people’s enthusiasm to enter the Land of Israel. Then, Moses describes God’s promise to bring them into the land, the conditions to successfully live there, i.e. keep His Torah and Mitzvot; conquer the land and drive out the evil inhabitants. Moses then warns that sinning will bring exile, and finally the prophet Isaiah promises consolation will come. He descibes the time the exile will end and the Jewish people’s return to the land will begin.

This past week, a plane load of 242 North American Olim (new immigrants), arrived in Israel. The Aliyah flight was chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Israel’s Aliyah & Absorption Ministry, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel (KKL), and Jewish National Fund-USA.

The new Olim are from 22 US states and two Canadian provinces. They include 21 medical professionals, three sets of twins, and a 28-day-old baby, who will officially become the youngest Oleh to make Aliyah with Nefesh B’Nefesh this summer.

We today, are living those prophecies of return to Israel...

 

Ariel Natan Pasko, an independent analyst and consultant, has a Master's Degree specializing in International Relations, Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.

(c) 2019/5779 Pasko

Ask Yourself: What Did I Do For The Third Temple Today?

What did I do to help bring the Third Temple today? A question every Jew should ask themselves everyday, especially now that we’ve entered Rosh Chodesh Av and The Nine Days, leading up to Tisha B’Av.
 
The Yalkut Shimoni (a midrash) on the Book of First Samuel (106) teaches us an awesome lesson about the Churban/destruction and exile by the Romans, Rabbi Simeon Bar Menasya said, “Israel was only exiled after it rejected the following three things, Malchut Shamayim/the Kingdom of Heaven, Malchut Beit David/Kingship from the House of David, and the Beit HaMikdash/the Holy Temple.

So we learn from this, that the cause of the exile of the Jewish people, was because Jews took too lightly, Torah observance (God’s rule), we should have demanded a rightful Davidic descendant be appointed as king, once the Maccabees drove out the Syrian Greeks, and Jews didn’t care enough about the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

A variant text in the Yalkut Shimoni explains from a different angle, why the Roman exile would be so long, as opposed to the limited seventy years of the Babylonian exile, after the destruction of the First Temple. Rabbi Simeon Bar Menasya predicted, “In the future the following three things will be despised by Israel, the Kingdom of Heaven, David’s kingdom [the Messiah], and the building of the [Third] Temple.”

By the attitudes and behavior of most Jews today; the rampant secularization and assimilation; apathy about the Messianic concept and the Temple; Rabbi Simeon’s prediction seems to have come true.

But there is a third variant text, that gives the solution, how to end the exile. Rabbi Simeon Bar Menasya said, “Israel will not see a sign of the redemption until they [the Jews] repent and demand the following three things, the Kingdom of Heaven, David’s kingdom [the Messiah], and the building of the [Third] Temple.” 

To remedy the situation, end exile and bring redemption, Jews must be taught to understand the value of these three things, then begin to demand them, and work to achieve them.

There are many things to do everyday, like saying the section about Korbanot (Offerings), written in the prayer book, at the beginning of the Shacharit (morning) and Mincha (afternoon) prayers.

And saying Tikkun Chatzot, the midnight prayer, mourning, the exile of the Jewish people, the lack of honor paid to the God of Israel by the nations of the world, and the feeling of lack, that we no longer have the Beit HaMikdash.

Get any one of a number of books about the Beit HaMikdash, available to buy these days (many with charts, diagrams, and pictures). Learn about the temple, the priesthood, and sacrificial system, their halachic details, and deeper mystical meanings.

Then if you’re in Israel, there’s Aliyah to Har HaBayit (going up to the Temple Mount within the known permitted areas), to show to the Arabs and the world, a Jewish presence there, and to God, that the Jewish people still care.

And there is also working with, or donating money to, any of a number of temple organizations and yeshivot (rabbinical colleges), working to construct vessels for future usage, learning all the pertinent laws of the temple, priesthood, and sacrificial system, promoting Jewish rights on the Temple Mount, and protecting the area of the Temple Mount from destruction of artifacts and Arabization, etc.

These increased activities, are all in addition to saying every Bracha/Blessing and every prayer, doing every mitzvah and learning Torah, with the intention of increasing God's Honor, the honor of Israel, the thought of bringing the messiah, and helping to bring about the rebuilding of the Holy Temple.

But by far the simplest thing to do, something everybody could do, is simply to ask yourself everyday, “What have I done for the Beit HaMikdash today?”

Purpose: to increase your Temple Consciousness!

If you think that all these activities are a waste of time, that God will send the Messiah to build the Third Temple when He feels like it and nothing we do will help, think again! 

There are many Torah sources that indicate, that its possible that the Beit HaMikdash or Holy Temple will be rebuilt before the onset of the Messianic Age.

“R. Acha said: This teaches that the Holy Temple will be built before the throne of the house of David is established,” (Talmud Yerushalmi Maaser Sheni 5:2, Vilna 29b).

See also, Tosefot Yom Tov, Rashash, Malechet Shlomo, Ibid. Shnei Luchot HaBrit, Beit David 1:376. Cf. Megillah 17b end. In Yalkut 2:499, we find that the Messiah will reveal himself on the Temple roof, i.e. the Holy Temple is already built. See also VaYoel Moshe 55f (from the Satmar Rebbe), and Rabbi Yehuda Gershoni, Mishpat HaMelucha 11:1.

The Rambam, throughout his halachic masterpiece, the Mishneh Torah, constantly stresses that its a mitzvah for all time, for the Jewish people to build the Beit HaMikdash.

And, take a look at Rabbi Aryeh Leib ben Asher Gunzburg (c. 1695 – 1785), also known as the Shaagas Aryeh, a Lithuanian rabbi, and author of the Gevurot Ari, on Ta’anit 17. There it states, that certain Kohanim/priests are forbidden all year round to drink wine, from the Gemara Rosh HaShanah 11a, which cites a dispute between R. Eliezer and R. Yehoshua whether the redemption is going to happen in Nissan or Tishri.

The Gevurot Ari asks on the Gemara there, a question, it should be sufficient to ban drinking wine only for these two months, so why is it necessary to ban it for the entire year?

He answers on the basis of the Talmud Yerushalmi Maaser Sheni 5:2 that the Beit HaMikdash will be built before the Messiah from the House of David comes. He writes that according to this there is no fixed day for the building of the Beit HaMikdash – it could be built any day of the year. In contrast he explains that, R. Eliezer and R. Yehoshua discuss when the Messiah will come, which can only be in these months.

So, in fact, Rabbi Simeon was telling the Jewish people, to be redeemed, we need to implement these Mitzvot/policies that will re-build the ideal national structure in the Land of Israel, including building the Third Temple. 

And as we all know, action follows thought. So, ask yourself everyday during these Nine Days (and the rest of the year, till the Holy Temple is rebuilt): What did I do to help bring the Third Temple today?

Now is the time to increase your Temple Consciousness!

Ariel Natan Pasko, an independent analyst and consultant, has a Master's Degree specializing in International Relations, Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.
(c) 2019/5779 Pasko