Daily Dose of Geulah: Who Will Build the Beis HaMikdash?

mimivan

Wed, Feb 11 2009, 5:36 pm

There is the known opinion of the Zohar (Vol I 28.1) that the Third Beis HaMikdash will be built by G-d, “The building of the Holy One, Blessed be He.” Similarly, Rashi writes (Sukka 41.1) “The Future Mikdash for which we await, elaborately built, will be revealed and come from Heaven, as is said, “The Sanctuary, Hashem which your hands have founded.”

On the other hand, however, we have found in [the sayings of] our Sages of blessed memory (Talmud Yirushalmi, Megilla 1:11) that Moshiach will build the Beis HaMikdash.

The reason is apparently simple, for the building of the Beis HaMikdash is a positive commandment – as is written, “And they shall make Me a sanctuary” – and a mitzvah is something that is incumbent upon the Jewish People.

We therefore can find numerous commonalities between these opinions. The building of the Beis Hamikdash down below will be through man, and within this sanctuary there will descend and be manifest the spiritual sanctuary Above.

Alternatively, the physical sanctuary will descend from Heaven, but the doors and the gates that sank into the earth, made by the hands of man, will rise and be revealed and be erected in their place. Indeed, the one who erects the doors is considered as if he built it.

Accordingly, we find that the future construction will require both concepts – the concept of “the building of the Holy One blessed by he” and that it will be made by man, Melech HaMoshiach.”

-The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, Likkutei Sichos, Shabbos Chazon 5751)