“We practice the different parts of priestly work. The Work of the Cohanim in the Temple’
In a scene that looked like an animated biblical illustration, earlier this month a group of people carried out a special procession for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
They used sheep, special bread, and a sacrificial altar similar to that described in the Torah – the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
Shavuot is one of the three pilgrimage festivals where, according to tradition, Jews could go to the Temple.
“We practice the different parts of the priestly work. The work of the Cohanim in the Temple,” said Mordechai Persoff, program manager, Mikdash Educational Center.
He described to i24NEWS what happened during the biblical reenactment, including the pilgrimage of the firstfruits to the Temple in Jerusalem, known as Bikkurim.
The event brought together different organizations that share the same goal: to rebuild a third Jewish temple on the Temple Mount.
This is a sensitive issue given the current geopolitical atmosphere at the holy site where every small change in the status quo can lead to violence and crisis.
The leader of this initiative, Rabbi Baruch Kahane, is the son of far-right politician Meir Kahane, who was assassinated in 1990 by an American citizen of Egyptian origin.
“It can be miraculous. Of course it will take a lot of persuasion to try to convince people,” Kahane said. i24NEWS.
In previous years, this event and other re-enactments have taken place in Jerusalem, near the Temple Mount. But due to several obstacles such as the density and disapproval of the police, the ceremony moved to Mitzpe Yeriho, a religious settlement in the Judean Desert.
A huge altar was built there which resembles the Temple altar used for sacrifices.
Despite the many challenges, participants in this unique ceremony hope to carry on their tradition.
