How to Build the Temple: A Simple Step Anyone Can Take Today

The First Temple stood for 410 years and was destroyed because of idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed. The exile after the destruction of the First Temple, the Babylonian exile, lasted 70 years.

The Second Temple stood for 420 years and was destroyed because of baseless hatred. The exile continues from then until today – almost 2000 years.

The importance of unconditional love for every Jew cannot be overstated. If such a severe, long, and bitter exile was caused by baseless hatred, the way to correct this and hasten redemption is through unconditional love: Love for every Jew as they are.

Love of Israel

In the Torah, there are many commandments related to the theme of Love of Israel. The general commandment that appears in Parashat Kedoshim is "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18), and in fact, all commandments between a person and their fellow derive from this commandment. Some interpret the word "neighbor" as referring to Hashem, and if so, all Torah commandments are based on love of Hashem and love of every Jew. In light of this, we can understand the saying of Hillel the Elder, who told a non-Jew who wanted to convert "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. This is the whole Torah, the rest is its explanation," and Rabbi Akiva said: "Love your neighbor as yourself – this is a great principle in the Torah."

Since every Jew has a divine soul that is a real part of God above (regardless of their spiritual state), from the root of the soul we are all brothers (Tanya, Chapter 32). Just as a parent wants to see their children living in love, peace, and friendship, in the same way our Father, Hashem, wants to see us.

Commandments between a Person and Their Fellow

Among the commandments between a person and their fellow are both positive commandments and prohibitions. These commandments are expressed in the three "garments" (expressions) of the soul – thought, speech, action.

Examples of Positive Commandments:

In thought – "Judge your fellow with righteousness," a commandment to judge others favorably.

In speech – "Surely rebuke your fellow," the commandment to rebuke others. The rebuke should be done discreetly, with gentle language, calmly, out of deep care for others and the relationship with them, never out of anger.

In action – The commandment of charity.

Examples of Prohibitions:

In thought – "Do not bear a grudge." The prohibition of holding a grudge in your heart against someone who wronged you. This requires effort, practice, and learning.

In speech – "Do not oppress one another." The prohibition of verbal oppression is the prohibition of causing pain to others through speech.

In action – "Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor." The prohibition of seeing someone in danger and not helping them. The Lubavitcher Rebbe also interpreted this verse in spiritual matters. When someone is in spiritual danger, do not stand by but offer them spiritual help in a way that it can be accepted.

These are just a few examples of the many Torah guidelines for proper conduct toward others. There are also many commandments concerning justice, integrity in all matters of property and wealth, and more.

Guarding the Tongue

The topic of guarding the tongue includes the commandments related to the power of speech, encompassing both positive commandments and prohibitions. Generally speaking, it involves the prohibition of speaking ill about others or causing them distress through speech without any benefit. The righteous Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin, known as "Chafetz Chaim," wrote books on this subject, including practical laws for guarding speech in holiness. The laws are also compiled in various books and pamphlets that offer a short daily study, highly recommended (even a minute a day!) to invest in this important study. The tests on the topic of guarding the tongue are numerous, and studying the laws helps to recognize the tests and respond according to the law.

Speech is a unique faculty in humans, and we can use this power to sanctify the world and increase in goodness and kindness. The Torah guides us on how to use the power of speech in the right way. Through speech, worlds can be built, or, Heaven forbid, the opposite: a derogatory word, even if not said in front of the person being spoken about, can cause great harm, often damage not intended at all. Sometimes the difference between desirable speech and undesirable speech is clear and evident, but sometimes it involves subtleties, and it is therefore important to study the laws.

Prayer for Guarding the Tongue

The prayer for guarding the tongue composed by the "Chafetz Chaim" is worthwhile to say every day, after the morning blessings or after the Shacharit prayer.

Following is the text of the prayer:

Master of the Universe, may it be Your will, merciful and gracious God, that I be enabled today and every day to guard my mouth and tongue from evil speech and gossip and from their acceptance.

I will be careful not to speak even about one individual, much more so about the whole of Israel or part of it. Much more so not to complain about the ways of Hashem. And I will be careful not to speak lies, flattery, jesting, quarrels, anger, haughtiness, verbal oppression, embarrassment, and all forbidden matters. And enable me to speak only what is necessary for my physical or spiritual matters, and may all my actions be for the sake of Heaven.