I_00540

Bais Hamikdash Project and

PowerPoint Presentation
By Chaya Rubens

Grade Level: Elementary-Middle School

Description:
The materials provided supply ideas for a full, multi-modal program covering different
aspects of the Bais Hamikdash including a short PowerPoint Presentation. The children
can watch the presentation, write letters to Hashem, complete a Bais Hamikdash puzzle
(not included) and act out a play about being in Yerushalayim. These activities will help
the children understand the importance, magnificence and beauty of the Bais
Hamikdash, how it is a focal point for us and that when we learn about it, it is
considered as if we actually built the Bais Hamikdash.

Goals/Objectives:
Students will examine, summarize and dramatize relevant information about the Bais
Hamikdash to give them a deeper appreciation for what it was and what we are missing.

Materials Needed:
• White board, laptop
• Kohain Gadol costume
• Paper to write letters to the Kosel
• Colors etc.

Instructions:
1. Start the lesson by introducing the topic. We began by clicking our fingers like
they used to do in the Bais Hamikdash.
2. Put on some background music if it is not the 3 weeks yet, then start the
PowerPoint Presentation.
3. Explain and discuss each slide, when you get to the one of the Kosel you can
stop and the children can compose letters to Hashem.
4. Then act out the play of when they went to the Bais Hamikdash for Pesach.
5. We also made a puzzle of the Bais Hamikdash as well as the model from Tzivos
Hashem which was quite challenging for the children and required a lot of help.
6. Finish this unit by making a MIZRACH sign out of felt to take home as a souvenir.

Variation:
• This unit was originally prepared for a Limudei Kodesh day where the topic was
the Bais Hamikdash. However, any of the components can be used on their own
to enhance a lesson about Yerusahlayim or the Bais Hamikdash.
1. WELCOME TO OUR PROJECT ON THE BEIS HAMIKDASH.
‘One who has not seen the Beis Hamikdash has never seen a
majestic building.’

2. Yerushalayim, our holy city, is always in our hearts…

3a. Hashem told Yechezkel:

"The construction of my home can continue, even when my
children are in exile."

3b. "Learning the Torah's instructions regarding the Holy Temple

is equivalent to actually building it. Go tell them to study the
design of the Holy Temple, and I will consider it as though they
have actually built it!"

4a. Although there will be several differences between the

second and third temples, they will resemble each other in many
areas.
4b. Learning about the Second Beis Hamikdosh will prepare us for
the building of the Third Beis Hamikdosh.

5.The Beis Hamikdosh was obviously more than just a building.

It was the place on earth through which the presence of Hashem
was radiated to the entire world, much as the brain is the place
which generates the soul's energy to the entire body."

6. Originally, the Bechorim were meant to serve in the Beis

Hamikdosh. After the Bnei Yisroel worshipped the Golden Calf,
this privilege was taken away from them and was transferred to
the tribe of Levi.

©C.Rubens 2009. 1
7. We have made our own models of the Beis Hamikdosh according
to the Rambam– show them to the school!

8. We have also been on a tour of the Beis Hamikdash by our own

Kohain Gadol….
The Midrash states that the 3rd Beis Hamikdosh will be as large
as the entire city of Yerushalayim.
All Shuls from around the world will be miraculously moved to the
city of Yerushalayim, at the arrival of Moshiach.
Even Shuls that have already been destroyed will be renovated
and moved to Yerushalayim.
Narrator 1: During these three weeks, we mourn the many
tragedies that have befallen the Jewish People; first and
foremost, the loss of the Beis HaMikdash.
Narrator 2: A mourner is sad because he has experienced a loss.
In order for us to mourn, we have to realize what we have lost.
The Talmud writes, "One who has not seen the Beis HaMikdash
has never seen a majestic building." Let us try to recall the most
magnificent building we have ever seen. The Beis HaMikdash was
infinitely more beautiful. It was much more than an awesome
structure. It was the focal point of a whole different world.

The family is hurriedly preparing for their thrice annual trip to

Jerusalem to the Beis HaMikdash.
“Come children, it is almost Pesach. Hurry and pack up, we are
going to Jerusalem to the Beis HaMikdash! “
“But I will miss my friends Heshy and Yankel.”
“Don't worry they will be going too, along with all of our friends,
family and neighbors.”
“ Won't it be crowded there in Jerusalem? “

©C.Rubens 2009. 2
“Wait until you get there. You will see one of G-d's miracles. No
matter how many people will come, there will always be room for
everyone in Jerusalem. “

The excitement mounts as they approach the Holy City.

“I see the Beis HaMikdash off in the distance! Look at that, the
wind is blowing very strongly. Even so, the column of smoke rising
from the altar is not being blown by the wind at all! What a
miracle! “
“When we get closer, you will see a fire that even the heaviest
rains cannot extinguish. Look, there’s Heshy, there's Yankel, and
there's Uncle Abe! What a beautiful sight to see everyone coming
to Jerusalem! “
“Here we are now in the courtyard of the Beis HaMikdash.
Everyone is standing crowded together. The next part of the
service requires us to lie down. What will we do? Where will we
have room? Look at that, a miracle! There is plenty of room for
everyone to lie down. “
May we all merit to properly mourn the Beis HaMikdash and
therefore be present to rejoice in its rebuilding.

All Jews must assist in the construction of the Holy Temple,

men and women alike. But schoolchildren studying Torah must
continue their studies, despite the building. (Rambam, Hilchot
Beis HaBechirah 1:12)

ALL SING

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©C.Rubens 2009. 3
 Epinï
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Powerpoint and introduction to Beis Hamikdash.
Powerpoint on trip to Kosel
Write our own Letters to the Kosel
Work on our presentation for this afternoon.
Make a jigsaw puzzle of the Beis Hamikdosh.
Make a model of the Beis Hamikdosh - divide class into groups.
Make a MIZRACH SIGN out of felt as souvenir of this special day!
“One who has not seen the Beis HaMikdash
has never seen a majestic
j building."
g

Copyright. C. Rubens. 2009.

• Hashem told Yechezkel
Yechezkel::
• "The construction of my home can
continue, even when my children are in
exile."
il "
"Learning
Learning the Torah's
Torah s instructions
regarding the Holy Temple is equivalent to
actually building it. Go tell them to study
th d
the design i off th
the H
Holy
l TTemple,
l and d I will
ill
consider it as though they have actually
built it!"
it!
 Why the Second Beis
Hamikdosh?
• Although there will be several differences
between the second and third temples,
they will resemble each other in many
areas.

• Learning about the Second Beis

Hamikdosh
H ikd h will ill prepare us ffor th
the b
building
ildi
of the Third Beis Hamikdosh
Hamikdosh..
The Beis Hamikdosh was obviously
more than
h jjust a b
building.
ildi

• It was the place on earth through which

the presence of Hashem was radiated to
the entire world, much as the brain is the
place which generates the soul's
soul s energy to
the entire body."
 Firstborns will do their job!

• Originally,
Originally the Bechorim were meant to
serve in the Beis Hamikdosh
Hamikdosh.. After the
Bnei Yisroel worshipped the Golden Calf
Calf,
this privilege was taken away from them
and was transferred to the tribe of Levi
(who were not involved with the sin of the
egel hazahav
hazahav)).
hazahav).)
We made our own models of the second Beis Hamikdash
according to the RAMBAM
RAMBAM.
 Moving Mountains
• The Midrash states that the 3rd Beis Hamikdosh
will be as large
g as the entire city y of
Yerushalayim..
Yerushalayim
• All Shuls from around the world will be
miraculously
i l l moved d tto th
the city
it off Yerushalayim
Y
Yerushalayim,
h l i ,
at the arrival of Moshiach
Moshiach..
• Even Shuls that have already been destroyed
will be renovated and moved to Yerushalayim
Yerushalayim..

• Har Sinai, which served as the world’s first ‘Shul

‘Shul
Shul''
will also be redeemed from its "exile" in the
d
desert,t and
dbbe relocated
l t d iin IIsrael.
Israell.
 MOURNING THE
BEIS HAMIKDASH
• During g these three weeks, we mourn the many y
tragedies that have befallen the Jewish People; first
and foremost, the loss of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy
p ) A mourner is sad because he has
Temple).
experienced a loss. In order for us to mourn, we
have to realize what we have lost. The Talmud
((Tractate Sukkah 5151b)
b)) writes,, "one who has not seen
the Beis HaMikdash has never seen a majestic
building." Let us try to recall the most magnificent
building
g we have ever seen. The Beis HaMikdash
was infinitely more beautiful. It was much more than
an awesome structure. It was the focal point of a
whole different world.
 The family is hurriedly preparing for their thrice
annual
a ua ttrip
p to Je
Jerusalem
usa e to tthe
e Beis
e s HaMikdash
HaMikdash.
a das .

• Come children, it is almost Pesach. Hurry and

pack up
up, we are going to Jerusalem to the Beis
HaMikdash!!
HaMikdash
• But I will miss myy friends Heshyy and Yankel
Yankel..
• Don't worry they will be going too, along with all
of our friends, family and neighbors
neighbors.. Won't it be
crowded
d d ththere iin JJerusalem?
l ?
• Wait until you get there. You will see one of
Hashem’s
Hashem s miracles.
miracles No matter how many
people will come, there will always be room for
everyone in Jerusalem.
• The excitement mounts as they approach the
Holy City.
 I see the Beis HaMikdash off in
the
h distance!
di !
• Look at that, the wind is blowing very
strongly. Even so, the column of smoke
g from the altar is not being
rising g blown by y
the wind at all! What a miracle!
• When we g get closer, yyou will see a fire that
even the heaviest rains cannot extinguish.
Look, there are Heshy
Heshy,, there's Yankel
Yankel,, and
th ' U
there's Uncle
l Ab
Abe!! Wh
Whatt a bbeautiful
tif l sight
i ht
to see everyone coming to Jerusalem!
 Here we are now in the courtyard
off the
h Beis
B i HaMikdash.
H Mikd h
• Everyone is standing crowded together
together.
The next part of the service requires us to
lie down
down. What will we do? Where will we
have room? Look at that, a miracle! There
is plenty of room for everyone to lie down
down.
• May we all merit to properly mourn the
Beis HaMikdash and therefore be present
to rejoice in its rebuilding.
 Have you called the right
number?
b ?
• The Kosel has no street number and no
postal code, but it receives more
y
letters than anyone in the world.
• Letters arrive from every country
where Jews are living.g
• Hashem sees into our hearts and
answers all our Tefillos.
• We have written our own letters to
Hashem….
 Learning
g vs. Building
g

• All Jews must assist in the

construction of the Holy
Temple, men and women alike.
But schoolchildren studying
Torah must continue their
studies,
t di despite
d it the
th building.
b ildi
(Rambam
Rambam,, Hilchot Beis
HaBechirah 1:12
12))
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NEXT YEAR IN
YERUSHALAYIM!