One of the questions that is often asked about blowing shofar (during Elul) to confuse the Satan is, “Hasn’t he figured it out already?” The answer to this question is that he is far more aware of the imminent nature of the geula than we are. The craziness that we have been experiencing in the past year is perhaps even more indicative of the fact that we are in ikvasa d’mashicha (the footsteps of Moshiach). The Netziv (HaAmek Davar BaMidbar 20:5) writes that before Mashiach comes Hashem will give Klal Yisroel a pre-taste of the Kibbutz Galius (the Ingathering of the Exiles) that will happen when Moshiach arrives. All of the above are reasons why we should be learning the halachos of building the Beis Hamikdash now (and reading this article).

The Three Mitzvos

The Gemara in Sanhedrin (20b) states that when the nation of Israel entered into Eretz Yisroel they were commanded to do three mitzvos: to appoint a king, to destroy Amalek and to build the Beis Hamikdash. The Rishonim debate about what the exact source of this third mitzvah is. The Rambam writes (Hilchos Bais HaBechirah 1:1) that it comes from the pasuk (Shemos 25:8), “V’asu li Mikdash” (And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them).

The Semag (Assin 163) writes that the source is from the pasuk (Dvarim 12:11), “And it will be, that the place Hashem will choose in which to establish His name there you shall bring all that I am commanding you: Your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the separation by your hand, and the choice of vows which you will vow to Hashem.”

Rav Yoseph Karo, in his Kesef Mishna, explains the debate. The Semag holds that the earlier pasuk in Shemos refers to the Mishkan, but not the Beis Hamikdash. The Rambam holds that it applies to the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash. The latter pasuk teaches us that the mitzvah is only applicable after Amalek is destroyed.

There may also be a fundamental debate as to the nature of the mitzvah of building the Beis Hamikdash itself.

Rambam Versus Ramban

The language of the Rambam (ibid) is that the building of the Beis Hamikdash is a means to the bringing of the korbanos. The word korban, by the way, is mistranslated as “sacrifice.” The correct translation is “closifier.” The korbanos bring one closer to Hashem as does visiting the holiest place on earth.

The Ramban (Assei #33), on the other hand, writes that the building of the Beis Hamikdash is a mitzvah in and of itself.

Rabbi Mordechai Ilan (1915-1981), known as the Ilui of Suvalk, understands the Rambam as viewing the building of the Beis Hamikdash as a hechsher mitzvah (an act which is preparatory)to the bringing of korbanos and not as a full mitzvah in and of itself.

On the other hand, Rav Shlomo Heiman (cited in Toras HaKodesh vol. II diman 11) understands the Rambam as holding that there are two parts to the mitzvah — one being a hechsher mitzvah and the other being a full mitzvah in and of itself.

The Steipler, in his Kehilas Yaakov (Yevamos Siman 5), writes that it is a mitzvah to build it and to ensure that it is in a state of existence.

No Building at Night

The Gemara in Shavuos 15b and the Rambam (Bais HaBechira 1:12) state that one does not build the Beis Hamikdash at night. This is based upon the pasuk (Bamidbar 9:15), “And on the day the Mishkan was erected, the cloud covered the Mishkan.” The Gemara extrapolates from this pasuk, “In the day it is erected and not at night.”

If It Was Built at Night

It seems that there is a debate between the Minchas Chinuch and the Mikdash Dovid (siman 1) as to whether if it was built at night does it make it pasul. The Minchas Chinuch holds it does not, while the Mikdash Dovid holds it makes it invalid.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, in his Derech Chochma, states that it is still a mitzvah to build it during Bain haShmashos (twilight). It seems that he holds like the Minchas Chinuch in this regard.

Is It an Obligation of the People or of the Individual?

The Rambam (Mitzvah 148) writes that the obligation is a communal one and not an obligation of the individual. This is also the opinion of the Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah #95).

Are Women Also Obligated?

The Rambam writes (Hilchos Bais HaBechirah 1:12) that women are also included in the obligation to build the Beis Hamikdash. The Kuntrus Shiurim (Kiddushin 19:6) writes that the reason this is so is precisely because it is a communal mitzvah rather than an individual one, and women are part of the community.

Is Fashioning the Vessels of the Mikdash Included in the Mitzvah?

The Minchas Chinuch (95:8) explores the parameters of the mitzvah, as to whether it includes fashioning the vessels of the Beis Hamikdash, like the Menorah and such. It seems that this is a debate between the Rambam and Ramban.

Will There Be a Mitzvah of Chanukas HaBayis?

Will there be a mitzvah of Chanukas HaBayis after the third Beis Hamikdash is built? When the original Mishkan was erected there was a Chanukas HaBayis—dedication ceremony (see Bamidbar 7:10 and Ramban there). But was this just for the Mishkan? Or was it a perpetual type of mitzvah?

Shlomo HaMelech did the same thing when he dedicated the Beis Hamikdash (See Malachim I 8:63). Klal Yisroel, under the direction of the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah (The Men of the Great Assembly) did the same thing when the Second Beis Hamikdash was built (see Ezra 6:16-17).

The BaHaG actually lists the Chanukas HaBayis as a separate mitzvah. The Ramban, who holds that it is a permanent mitzvah and not just for the time of the Mishkan, does not list it separately and subsumes it under the general mitzvah of building the Beis Hamikdash.

Does the Mitzvah Apply Today?

The Gemara in Sanhedrin 22a indicates that the obligation to build the Beis Hamikdash is only when we have a king in place. The question can be asked, however, how could the second Beis Hamikdash have been built? We did not have a king at that point.

The meforshim explain that the second Beis Hamikdash was built upon the direction of a navi (See responsa of Chasam Sofer YD #237).

Will the Third Beis Hamikdash Be Built by Man or Will It Come Down Miraculously?

Rashi and Tosfos (Sukkah 41a “Ih Nami”) are of the opinion that the third Beis Hamikdash will come down from Heaven in a miraculous fashion. The Rambam (in his introduction to his Mishna commentaryon Midos) writes that it will be a man-made construct.

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