Q
I heard construction on the Altar of the Temple in Jerusalem started on July 30. Could you please update me on this?
A
On July 30, which was Tisha B’Av this year, the Temple Institute began construction on a “portable” Altar which can be used before the Temple is built and then wheeled into place once the Temple is ready. Tisha B’Av is the date on which both previous Temples were destroyed.
According to news reports, even a minimum size altar will work out to be approximately 2 meters tall, 3 meters long, and 3 meters wide. Institute workers have collected around 10 cubic meters of rocks weighing several tons already, and are setting about to raise $26,000 to fund the construction.