How do Noahides Relate to the Third Temple?
Noahides were welcome to bring their sacrificial offerings for God to the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, and they will participate even more at the Third Temple – especially during the festival of Sukkot (Zechariah 14:16).
In his commentary on the Torah section beginning with Genesis 12:1, Ramban (Nachmanides) wrote:
“Even in the time of Joshua, Noahides knew that this place was the most august of all, that it was at the center of the inhabited world; and Torah Tradition had taught them that it corresponds in this world to the celestial Temple where Divine Majesty, called (righteousness), resides.”
When the First Temple was inaugurated by King Solomon, he beseeched God with an eloquent prayer that included the following words, which show that in the past, Gentiles were welcomed to the First and Second Temples, and that they will participate even more in the Third Temple:
“If a foreigner who is not of Your People Israel comes from a distant land for the sake of Your Name – for they shall hear about Your Great Name and Your Mighty Hand and Your Outstretched Arm – when he comes to pray toward this House, oh, hear in Your heavenly abode and grant all that the foreigner asks from You. Thus all the peoples of the earth will know Your Name and revere You, as does Your people Israel; and they will recognize that Your name is attached to this House that I have built.” (Kings I, 8:41-43)
Torah Law holds that Noahides are allowed to bring burnt offerings to God in the Third Temple when it is standing in Jerusalem. There is a specific commandment to let us know that an animal (sheep, goat or bullock) offered in the Temple by a Noahide must be unblemished, to the same degree as the offering of a Jew.
(Leviticus 22:25)
The Prophet Isaiah foretold us about the even greater participation of Noahides that will take place at the Third Temple :
“And it will come to pass at the end of days that the mountain of God’s House will be firmly established, even higher than the peaks, and all the peoples will flow toward it as a river. And many nations will go and will cry, ‘Let us go up toward the mountain of God’s House, to the House of the Lord of Jacob, and we will learn from His ways and walk in His paths, for out of Zion goes forth Torah and the word of G-d from Jerusalem.“
(Isaiah 2:2-3)
Brought by Rabbi Moshe Perets
Rabbi Moshe Perets is the Founder and Executive Director of NoahideAcademy.org, the world’s largest Noahide informational website. He has established the Noahide Academy of Israel website under the non-profit organisation - אור לעמים - Light Unto the Nations since 2016. He accomplished his Rabbinical Studies at the Chabad Yeshiva of Brussels in 2011. He has a medical degree by the University of Louvain in Brussels as well a Masters in Biomedical Research by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has for the past years focused on Psychotherapy and developed a new approach: Deep Soul Therapy. He is a spiritual mentor, teacher, coach, and healer who has helped facilitate profound shifts for hundreds of people around the globe. His teaching activities at the Noahide Academy allowed students from all over the world to live passionate, purposeful lives, connect more intimately with G-d, and reveal the hidden light and power of their souls. Rabbi Moshe Perets lives currently in Israel with his wife and 5 children.
Used Sources
Resourced in the original text posted in Asknoah.org by Rabbi Michael Schulman
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