The Beit Hamikdash was the center of the universe in all that regards man's service of G-d. Here was the altar on which were brought the daily and seasonal offerings in which every individual was a partner. Here the farmer brought his first fruits that ripened in his orchard, and the shepherd brought the first-born of his flocks.
If a person had a sin to atone for, a personal salvation to be thankful for, a vow to fulfill, or the simple desire to contribute something of his heart and fortune to the Almighty, he came to the Beit Hamikdash.
The Beit Hamikdash was also the center of the universe in all that regards the revelation of G-dliness in our world.
Ten regularly occurring daily miracles attested to its divinity, and three times a year the entire nation made a pilgrimage to Mount Moriah, where the Temple was, to "see and be seen by the face of the L-rd."
The altar was the heart of the Temple's definition as "a house for G-d in which to offer the korbonot, the sacrifices."
It is universally accepted that the place on which King David and Shlomo built the Altar, is the same location where Abraham built the Altar on which he prepared Isaac for sacrifice. And the same place that Noah built an altar when he left the Ark. It was also the place of the Altar on which Cain and Abel brought their sacrifices. Similarly, Adam, the first man, offered a sacrifice there and was created at that very spot.
The Altar was made of small stones, lime, pitch, and glazing. The stones were perfectly smooth, with no nicks or scratches that could be detected with the thumbnail. These stones were never touched by metal, because metal is believed to shorten the life of man, and the Altar represents the lengthening of life.
Today, when prayer has taken the place of the offerings, the Beit Hamikdash remains the "gate of heaven" toward which we thrice daily direct our lips and hearts.
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