Jerusalem and the Rebuilt Holy Temple: The Spiritual Capital of the World

As is well known, once the world reaches its ideal state, the Holy Temple (“God’s dwelling place”) will be rebuilt. This topic requires deeper thought, because, seemingly, God does not need a place to live.

Let us first consider the meaning of the city where the Temple will be built. Jerusalem is the capital of the world. Every nation has its own political and administrative capital, but the capital of the entire world, which is ruled by God, is Jerusalem. Because of this, humanity has always been drawn to it, without fully understanding why, and disputes over sovereignty in the region continue to this day.

Nevertheless, we must know that Jerusalem does not truly belong to any specific people and is not the capital of any one country. On the contrary, it is the capital of the world! That said, we know that God chose the right people — the Jewish nation, to take upon themselves the spiritual leadership of the city and to reveal truth to the world. If the nation had lived up to its mission, it would have remained in Jerusalem without suffering repeated expulsions by invading nations.

Beyond being the city of the Temple, Jerusalem was once a center of great spiritual influence, and even today it awakens in people a desire to seek wisdom and truth. It has an atmosphere suited to this purpose, which can be felt even by those unconnected to Torah.

Many people are still not mentally prepared to consciously accept its positive influence, yet they are nonetheless affected by its unique atmosphere. There are also those who, under Jerusalem’s spiritual intensity, experience psychological disturbances referred to as “Jerusalem Syndrome.”

The Temple is the structure from which the world will be spiritually governed by God. Just as the White House is the center of political decision-making in the United States, the Temple will be the source from which the world will receive divine abundance and material blessing.

On a deeper level, the Temple was and will be a continuation of the revelation at Mount Sinai. Since people cannot constantly experience God’s presence in its full intensity, He created this place to preserve that awareness. The Temple stood at the heart of Jerusalem, and there one could encounter the ultimate truth of the world and of life. Those who came there became fortified against obstacles on the path to truth.

In fact, the very forces that hinder us from reaching truth can lead us to it if we channel them correctly. This is also true in society — people can either pull us away from the right path or bring us closer to it. The same applies to our senses and emotions.

There is no spiritual elevation greater than one that engages emotions and senses. Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi explains in The Kuzari that the essence of a person’s spiritual connection lies in the heart. When used properly, emotions can reach heights the intellect alone cannot attain. Notably, every service in the Temple was accompanied by stimulation of one of the five senses, elevating the spirit of those present.

You have likely experienced moments when a certain fragrance uplifted you or stirred a deep nostalgia that shifted your emotional state. The same happens when you listen to a beautiful song or a melody capable of calming, gladdening, or even moving you to tears.

The Temple service was a perfect harmony of actions that penetrated the senses and led to spiritual elevation. The Levites were responsible for song and music, and those who heard them felt their mood shift instantly — an effect that was itself a spiritual goal.

The incense was made of special ingredients that released a powerful aroma designed to inspire and uplift.

In the sacrificial service, observers witnessed life passing from the physical world to the spiritual. Simply watching an animal being slaughtered by God’s command would shake a person to the core, prompting reflection on life’s fragility, which in turn led to spiritual awakening.

It is important to note that sacrifices to God were offered only in the Temple, and the priests would eat part of them; in our times, it is forbidden to take the life of an animal for such a purpose.

The sensory stimuli mentioned were positive only when used correctly; if misused, they could become obstacles to truth. This is the reason that about one-fifth of the Written Torah is dedicated to describing the details of Temple service.

In light of all this, entering the place of the Divine Presence was a powerful act that could endanger anyone unprepared for it. Not everyone was permitted to enter the Temple as it required thorough preparation. The Holy of Holies could be entered only by the High Priest, and only once a year. Anyone entering against God’s command would immediately pay with his life.