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The most important
object in the Temple was the Holy Ark, which stood
in the Holy of Holies. The two tablets of
the covenant, upon which the ten commandments were
inscribed, were place inside the ark, over which
stood the two (sculpted) angels of G-d. Inside the
Temple compound were three areas, which were
designated for specific groups: (the priests
section) was for the priest who served in the
Temple: the "Israelite section" was for the men
and the "women's section" was for the women who
came to the temple. Only the High Priest was
permitted to enter the Holy of Holies. During the
days of Solomon's reign, the temple was the focal
point for religious ritual and pilgrims from all
the tribes of Israel came to the temple. The
temple was a place of prayer and bringing
sacrifice. Each day different public
sacrifices were offered. On Saturdays,
festivals and Rosh Chodesh "the beginning of the
new month", additional Musaf sacrifices were
offered. Additionally, private individuals
offered their own sacrifices, either to give
thanks or to atone for their unintentional
transgressions. On the three festivals, the
masses of the Jewish people came to the temple.
They brought the Omer (grain offerings) and first
fruits. On Passover eve, the Passover
offerings were sacrificed in the courtyard of the
Temple.
The Second Temple was inaugurated in Jerusalem
between the years 521 and 517 BCE about 65 year
after the destruction of the First Temple.
It was rebuilt after Koresh gave his consent,
permitting the exiled Jews of Babylon to return to
Judea. About 70 years it was rebuilt, during
the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Second Holy
Temple reclaimed its central position within the
Jewish nation. The condition of the Temple
deteriorated during the rise of Antiochus, secular
Jewish aristocracy, the Holy Temple was converted
into a place of idol worship and idols were placed
in its compound. Our Sages claim that the
First Temple was destroyed because of idol
worship, forbidden sexual relations and the
shedding of innocent blood. The Second
Temple was destroyed because of warranted hatred
among Jews. Each year, the fast of the ninth
of Av is observed in memory of both Holy Temples.
The Holy Temple served as a political center
for the Jewish people and the center for the
worship of G-d and the Jewish Religion. The
Temple was called many different names in the
Bible: the house of G-d , the house of the L-rd;
the holy Sanctuary, G-d's Sanctuary, the house of
the Devine (Holy of Holies).
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