The Temple Institute, located in the Jewish Quarter, is a museum and research center dedicated to preparing for the construction of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount. The institute has reconstructed over 70 of the sacred vessels described in the Torah, using the specifications found in the biblical text and Talmudic sources. Whether you see the Temple Institute as an expression of deep faith, a provocative political statement, or a fascinating cultural phenomenon, it is one of the most unique institutions in Jerusalem.
Vessels
The institute’s collection includes a gold menorah (seven-branched candelabrum), the golden altar of incense, the silver trumpets used by the priests, the golden crown of the High Priest, the breastplate with twelve precious stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, and dozens of other implements described in the book of Exodus: “Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you” (Exodus 25:8-9). The vessels are not replicas for display; they are constructed to be ritually functional, ready for use in a future Temple.
Controversy
The Temple Institute operates in one of the most politically sensitive spaces in the world. The Temple Mount is also the Haram al-Sharif, the location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the third-holiest site in Islam. Any suggestion of building a Jewish temple on the site is deeply provocative to the Muslim world. The institute’s work exists at the intersection of religious aspiration, archaeological study, and geopolitical reality.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Temple Institute provides a window into a living tradition. Hoshen Tours visits the museum to help visitors understand both the biblical Temple service and the contemporary movement to restore it.