How to Rebuild the Temple, Pt. I

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“from you [Bethlehem] shall emerge for Me—the Messiah, son of David, and so Scripture says (Ps. 118:22): “The stone which the builders had rejected became the chief cornerstone…”

-Rashi, Micah 5:1

Tisha B’Av is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the day that both of the Houses of G-d in Jerusalem were destroyed. It is also the longest fast day of mourning in every Jewish year.

“On Tisha B’Av, unlike any other occasion, except for the “Shiva,” the seven-day period of mourning for a loved one, there exists a prohibition to study the Torah. This is because the study of Torah is considered a delight and a source of joy, as King David says in Tehilim, “The Laws of Hashem are fair, and make the heart happy.” (Psalms 19:9) On this day, happiness is specifically not a desired goal.

However, certain portions of the Torah are permitted to be studied even on Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish year…

The permitted Talmudical portions are in the “Aggadic” part of the Talmud; that is, the non-legal, but rather, historical or poetic, but with a moral lesson, portions. In particular, those portions of the Aggadah which are permitted to be studied are those dealing with the “Churban,” or Destruction, of Yerushalayim and of the Temple, the destruction of Beitar at the end of the Bar Kochba Revolt with its river, literally, of Jewish blood, and of certain similarly tragic episodes in Jewish History…

The major location in which these Aggadic portions are found is in “Masechet Gittin,” the Volume of the Talmud the legal portion of which deals mainly with “Gittin,” or Divorces (pages 55b – 58a). This is most appropriate, since the destruction of Yerushalayim and the Temple about two thousand years ago represented a “temporary” divorce, separating G-d and the Jewish People.”

-“Torah Study on Tisha B’Av,” Orthodox Union

Amazingly, the only other date in the Jewish calendar where there is a prohibition to study Torah is also the only date of the non-Jewish calendar which is officially recognized in Judaism, especially by Chasidim – Christmas. Jews call it in Yiddish, ‘Nitel,’ or ‘Nitel Nacht,’ which can mean ‘the night of birth (nativity).’ The darkest day in the Jewish year (Tisha B’Av) is here connected to one of the physically darkest days of the year (Nitel).

“Cursed be the day on which I was born: let not the day on which my mother bore me be blessed.”

-Jeremiah 20:14

It is said that the Prophet Jeremiah was born on Tisha B’Av (“the Ninth of Av”), and that the Messiah was also born on Tisha B’Av (in “Bethlehem“). Both Jeremiah and Yeshu prophesied the destruction of the Temple before it happened and were persecuted for it. It is said that “Nitel” is the acronym of “Nolad Yeshu Teis L‘Teves” (“Yeshu was born on the Ninth of Teves”). While Teves is the closest Hebrew month to Christmas, there’s no reason that “Nitel” could not just as easily be an acronym for “Nolad Yeshu Teis L‘Av” (“Yeshu was born on the Ninth of Av”). The Ninth of Teves was probably chosen for the acronym of “Nitel” because this is the day of the death of Yeshu’s chief disciple, Shimon Peter, who is considered a Tzadik (righteous one) and his death is actually mourned in Judaism. This day is also the eve of the Tenth of Teves, which marks the date that Joseph was sold by his brothers (including Shimon), and is the spiritual root for all exile and tragedies which befell the Jewish people, foreshadowing the selling of Yeshu as “Messiah son of Joseph.” Besides this, “Nitel Nacht” is exactly the middle point or half the Gematria of “Mashiach” (“Messiah”), who was born on the Ninth of Av.

“…the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, the historic date on which both of the Jewish Temples were destroyed. Ironically, many rabbinic authorities actually suggest this was the actual day of Jesus’ birth.”

-Benyamin Cohen, “Holy Night”

““At the entrance of Rome and so on.” See Rashi, and based on what is explained in the Midrash Rabba, for the Messiah was born already during the time of the destruction of the Temple and was taken from among men to the Garden of Eden [Heaven].”

–Maharsha, Chidushei Aggados, Sanhedrin 98a

Interestingly, the Ninth of Av always lands on the same day of the week in a year as Passover, which is the holiday during which Yeshu was sold, killed, and resurrected.

““[Yeshua] was deserving to be the Messiah son of Yoseph (MBY)… However, due to his own breakthroughs (peritz-oto) and the baseless hatred that was among the Israelites towards him, he became disfigured and turned into a foreigner. He became marred and fell from the Yesod of holiness to the Yesod of the kelipah [shell]… Mashiach ben Yoseph is the one who does battle, and Mashiach ben David comes to make peace in the world, not war. This is opposite of Yeshu HaNotzri, who said of himself, “I did not come into the world to make peace, but war” (Matthew 10:34, cp Luke 12:49-53). And also he himself was certainly the secret of Mashiach ben Yoseph even though he was a mamzer, because a wise scholar who is a mamzer precedes the High Priest who is ignorant (Mishna Horaot 3:8). However, since it was not yet the proper time, because there was baseless hatred in Israel, he was marred and held by Samae-l (Satan), who destroyed him, and he was crucified. And Yehoshua ben Parachiah his Rabbi was himself a “reincarnation” specifically of Yehoshua [bin Nun], and it was up to him to rectify this Yeshua HaNotzri, because he also was from his (soul) root. Instead, he pushed him away with both hands. But in the last generation, Mashiach ben Yoseph is not pushed away, because Mashiach ben David joins with him…”

-Rabbi Moshe David Valle, Sefer HaLekutim Vol. 1, pp. 242

“There is a big Klal (general principle) by us. We Yidden (Jews) have a Klal, which was said by the Ishah Chachamah (wise woman) to David HaMelech, ‘levilti nidach mimenu yidach’ [2 Samuel 14:14]. No nidach, no one will ever be rejected from Klal Yisroel (the collective of Israel)… There’s no such thing as a kelalah (curse) on a Ben Yisroel (child of Israel) that will last forever, no such thing… No one will ever be lost from Klal Yisroel.

I’m a little afraid to repeat this, but it’s Torah and I’ll venture to utter it. I heard from my rebbe, Rav Feivel Mendlowitz, may his memory be for a blessing — he said it from the Ari HaKadosh (I don’t know the source to it — I don’t know where the Ari HaKadosh says it, but I remember it distinctly that he said over from the Ari HaKadosh) that even Oso HaIsh (‘That Man,’ [Jesus]) will have a Tikkun (rectification)… The Gemara criticizes Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Perachiah. He should have accepted Oso HaIsh (‘That Man’) and accepted his Teshuvah (return) and because he didn’t, we are suffering Ad HaYom HaZeh (until this day)…”

-Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, Drasha of the Haftara, 1989 Tazria

“However, considering that the people during the Second Temple period were engaged in Torah study, observance of mitzvot, and acts of kindness, and that they did not perform the sinful acts that were performed in the First Temple, why was the Second Temple destroyed? It was destroyed due to the fact that there was baseless hatred during that period. This comes to teach you that the sin of baseless hatred is equivalent to the three severe transgressions: Idol worship, forbidden sexual relations and bloodshed. The Gemara continues: They were wicked; however, they put their faith in the Holy One, Blessed be He... It was Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Elazar who both said: In the case of the former, the people in the First Temple era, whose sin was exposed and no attempt was made to disguise their conduct, the end of their punishment was exposed, and the prophet informed them that they would return to their land in seventy years. In the case of the latter, the people in the Second Temple era, whose sin was not exposed; rather, they attempted to disguise their conduct, the end of their punishment was not exposed.“

-Talmud Bavli, Yoma 9b:8, 12

After explaining why the Second Temple was destroyed (“Baseless Hatred”), it says that their “sin was not exposed,” implying that something concerning the baseless hatred was not yet revealed within Judaism. Both Judaism and Christianity teach that the Second Temple was destroyed because of ‘Baseless Hatred,’ but Christianity mainly relates this to baseless hatred specifically against Yeshua (which Ramad Valle and Rabbi Wolfson confirmed). Here we will analyze the only major section (Mishna) of Talmud (Gittin 55b – 58a) which is permitted to study on Tisha B’Av, in order to reveal why the Second Temple was destroyed according to Judaism and therefore how to rebuild it, ending this final exile after all…

Sicarii

“MISHNA: The law of Sicarii [Sikarikon] did not apply in Judea in the time that people were being killed in the war. From the time that people were being killed in the war and onward, the law of Sicarii did apply there. What is this law of Sicarii? If one first purchased land from a Sicarius, who extorted the field from its prior owners with threats, and afterward the buyer returned and purchased the same field a second time from the prior landowner, his purchase is void...”

-Talmud Bavli, Gittin 55b:9

The very opening of this section deals with people called Sicarii. Incredibly, the Jewish disciple who betrayed and sold Yeshu to his death was a Sicarii – Judas (Judah, like the brother who sold Joseph) Iscariot.

Kamtza and Bar Kamtza

“The Gemara explains: Jerusalem was destroyed on account of Kamtza and bar Kamtza. This is as there was a certain man whose friend was named Kamtza and whose enemy was named bar Kamtza. He once made a large feast and said to his servant: Go bring me my friend Kamtza. The servant went and mistakenly brought him his enemy bar Kamtza. The man who was hosting the feast came and found bar Kamtza sitting at the feast. The host said to bar Kamtza. That man is the enemy [ba’al devava] of that man, that is, you are my enemy. What then do you want here? Arise and leave. Bar Kamtza said to him: Since I have already come, let me stay and I will give you money for whatever I eat and drink. Just do not embarrass me by sending me out.

The host said to him: No, you must leave. Bar Kamtza said to him: I will give you money for half of the feast; just do not send me away. The host said to him: No, you must leave. Bar Kamtza then said to him: I will give you money for the entire feast; just let me stay. The host said to him: No, you must leave. Finally, the host took bar Kamtza by his hand, stood him up, and took him out. After having been cast out from the feast, bar Kamtza said to himself: Since the Sages were sitting there and did not protest the actions of the host, although they saw how he humiliated me, learn from it that they were content with what he did. I will therefore go and inform [eikhul kurtza] against them to the king. He went and said to the emperor: The Jews have rebelled against you...”

-Gittin 55b:17-56a:3

Just as Bar Kamtza was kicked out and embarrassed, despite his generosity, so too was Yeshu “pushed away with both hands” out of “baseless hatred.” “Jerusalem was destroyed on account of Kamtza and bar Kamtza.” The Gematria of “Kamtza and Bar Kamtza” is exactly, “Yeshu HaNotzri” (“Jesus of Nazareth,” 671).

Nakdimon

“Nero said: The Holy One, Blessed be He, wishes to destroy His Temple, and He wishes to wipe his hands with that man, i.e., with me. The Romans are associated with Edom, the descendants of Esau. If I continue on this mission, I will eventually be punished for having served as God’s agent to bring about the destruction. So he fled and became a convert, and ultimately Rabbi Meir descended from him. The Roman authorities then sent Vespasian Caesar against the Jews. He came and laid siege to Jerusalem for three years. There were at that time in Jerusalem these three wealthy people: Nakdimon ben Guryon, ben Kalba Savua, and ben Tzitzit HaKesat. The Gemara explains their names: Nakdimon ben Guryon was called by that name because the sun shined [nakad] on his behalf, as it is related elsewhere (see Ta’anit 19b) that the sun once continued to shine in order to prevent him from suffering a substantial loss. Ben Kalba Savua was called this because anyone who entered his house when he was hungry as a dog [kelev] would leave satiated [save’a]. Ben Tzitzit HaKesat was referred to by that name because his ritual fringes [tzitzit] dragged along on blankets [keset], meaning that he would not walk in the street with his feet on the ground, but rather they would place blankets beneath him. There are those who say that his seat [kiseh] was found among the nobles of Rome, meaning that he would sit among them. These three wealthy people offered their assistance. One of them said to the leaders of the city: I will feed the residents with wheat and barley. And one of them said to leaders of the city: I will provide the residents with wine, salt, and oil. And one of them said to the leaders of the city: I will supply the residents with wood.“

-Gittin 56a:7-9

After discussing how the Roman Emperor was converted to Judaism, this section discusses how a leader named Nakdimon (Nicodemus) provided for the Jewish people and had a great miracle performed for him. Nakdimon was called, ‘Buni,’ and the only other mention of that name in the Talmud is of Yeshu’s disciple…

“A Sage taught: Nakdimon was not his real name; rather his name was Buni. And why was he called Nakdimon? Because the sun broke through [ nikdera ] for him.”

-Talmud Bavli, Taanit 20a:4

“Apropos the trial of Jesus, the Gemara cites another baraita , where the Sages taught: Jesus the Nazarene had five disciples: Mattai, Nakai, Netzer, Buni, and Toda.”

-Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 43a:22

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nakdimon, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Yeshua by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from G-d; for no one can do these signs that you do unless G-d is with him.””

-John 3:1-2

Gamliel

Another New Testament figure mentioned in this Talmudic section is Gamliel, who was Shaul’s rabbi and the leader of the Sanhedrin who defended the disciples of Yeshu…

“Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamliel, a teacher of the Torah held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the shluchim outside for a little while. And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. … And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of G-d, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against G-d…”

“I [Shaul] am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward G-d as you all are today.”

-Acts 5:34-35, 38-39, 22:3

“Vespasian then said to Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai: I will be going to Rome to accept my new position, and I will send someone else in my place to continue besieging the city and waging war against it. But before I leave, ask something of me that I can give you. Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said to him: Give me Yavne and its Sages and do not destroy it, and spare the dynasty of Rabban Gamliel and do not kill them as if they were rebels…”

-Gittin 56b:5

Rabban Gamliel was spared the destruction of Jerusalem and became the leader of the Sanhedrin. One can easily see how he was miraculously rewarded for his tutelage of Shaul and defense of the disciples. He is even considered a ‘saint’ by the Church. His dynasty of descendants eventually formed the Jewish calendar and led the Sanhedrin until its absolution at the hands of the Christian Roman Empire.

Yatush

“What did Titus do when he conquered the Temple? He took a prostitute with his hand, and entered the Holy of Holies with her. He then spread out a Torah scroll underneath him and committed a sin, i.e., engaged in sexual intercourse, on it. Afterward he took a sword and cut into the curtain separating between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies. And a miracle was performed and blood spurted forth. Seeing the blood, he mistakenly thought that he had killed himself. Here, the term himself is a euphemism for God. Titus saw blood issuing forth from the curtain in God’s meeting place, the Temple, and he took it as a sign that he had succeeded in killing God Himself. As it is stated: “Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; they have set up their own signs for signs” (Psalms 74:4).”

-Gittin 56b:9

Ironically, there is a book in the New Testament with the same name as one of the worst villains in Jewish history – Titus (besides the book of “Romans”). The story of Titus cutting the curtain is somewhat reminiscent of the Temple curtain being torn upon the death of Yeshua (and was also misinterpreted by Gentiles as the ‘death of God,’ chas v’shalom).

“Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the Temple was torn in two. And when Yeshua had cried out with a loud voice, he said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit my spirit.’ ” Having said this, he breathed his last. So when the [Roman] centurion saw what had happened, he glorified G-d, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man!””

-Luke 23:45-47

“The Gemara resumes its story about Titus. The Divine Voice continued: Go up on dry land and make war with it. He went up on dry land, and a gnat came, entered his nostril, and picked at his brain for seven years. Titus suffered greatly from this… It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Pineḥas ben Arova said: I was at that time among the noblemen of Rome, and when Titus died they split open his head and found that the gnat had grown to the size of a sparrow weighing two sela. It was taught in another baraita: It was like a one-year-old pigeon weighing two litra.“

-Gittin 56b:15-16

The Roman Emperor was killed by a miracle of G-d. The Gematria of ‘gnat’ is two times, ‘Messiah’ (716) and the Messiah is called a ‘bird’ in Kabbalah. This story is a perfect analogy of how the Jewish Messiah started small and expanded to subvert the Roman Empire from within.

Onkelos and Yeshu

“Onkelos then went and raised Jesus the Nazarene from the grave through necromancy. Onkelos said to him: Who is most important in that world where you are now? Jesus said to him: The Jewish people. Onkelos asked him: Should I then attach myself to them in this world? Jesus said to him: Their welfare you shall seek, their misfortune you shall not seek, for anyone who touches them is regarded as if he were touching the apple of his eye (see Zechariah 2:12). Onkelos said to him: What is the punishment of that man? Jesus said to him: He is punished with boiling excrement. As the Master said: Anyone who mocks the words of the Sages will be sentenced to boiling excrement. The Gemara comments: Come and see the difference between the sinners of Israel and the prophets of the nations of the world. As Balaam, who was a prophet, wished Israel harm, whereas Jesus the Nazarene, sought their well-being. To conclude the story of Kamtza and bar Kamtza and the destruction of Jerusalem, the Gemara cites a baraita. It is taught: Rabbi Elazar says: Come and see how great is the power of shame, for the Holy One, Blessed be He, assisted bar Kamtza, who had been humiliated, and due to this humiliation and shame He destroyed His Temple and burned His Sanctuary.“

-Gittin 57a:3-5

Here, Yeshua represents the opposite of Balaam by seeking the Jewish people’s well-being. This Talmudic passage flies in the face of those who unjustly blame Christian persecution of Jews on the Jewish rabbi Yeshua.

Onkelos is one of Judaism’s greatest Roman converts to Judaism. He is credited with the official Aramaic translation (Targum) of the Torah, studied weekly by Jews. His conversion to Judaism (as most conversions historically) is directly attributable to the influence of Yeshua of Nazareth, one of the Messiah’s most important roles…

To Be Continued…