Question for Jews: Rebuilding the Temple?

[Harpazo]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I recall hearing that there are Jews in Israel that believe a rebuilding of the Temple will usher in the End of Days. Of course there is the problem with a Muslims having a mosque on the existing site. However, if the Temple were to be rebuilt, how would the Temple priesthood be restored? From what I understood, the Jewish priesthood was an unbroken line that was lost with the destruction of the last Temple in A.D. 70. I also know that the only sect of Judaism to survive the destruction were the Pharisees.

For the Jews in existence today, would it even matter theologically if the Temple were to be rebuilt or would it just be convenient?

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[Splinker]

We know who the Kohanim are, as well as the Levites. When the Temple is rebuilt, they will be good to go.

 

[Harpazo]

We know who the Kohanim are, as well as the Levites. When the Temple is rebuilt, they will be good to go.

How do you know who the Kohanim and Levites are? Have there been communes of pure Kohanim and Levites? I had always thought that there had to be pure, untainted lines of men to keep the priesthood in tact. Would a “half-blooded” Kohanim be permitted to serve in the Temple?

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[Splinker]

How do you know who the Kohanim and Levites are? Have there been communes of pure Kohanim and Levites? I had always thought that there had to be pure, untainted lines of men to keep the priesthood in tact. Would a “half-blooded” Kohanim be permitted to serve in the Temple?

In Christ,
Andrew

what do you mean by “half-blooded” It is determined through the father’s line. If the father were a Kohanim, then the son is.

 

[Harpazo]

what do you mean by “half-blooded” It is determined through the father’s line. If the father were a Kohanim, then the son is.

I had always thought that it was the mother who determined if the child was a Jew, even though the father determined if the son was Kohanim. If a Jewish man married a gentile woman, then the child would not be Jewish, right?

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[Cristian_B]

The Temple of Jerusalem doesn’t have to be rebuilt for the anti-Christ to come, because the anti-Christ is already here.

Have you not heard that we are the Temple of God? As God descended into the Temple of Jerusalem, He will also descend into our hearts, if we allow Him to. We are His Sacred Temple.

Please, open your mind and seek the Truth. Do not believe everything this world says. Ask for wisdom and if He is pleased with you, He will reveal Himself to you.

 

[Splinker]

I had always thought that it was the mother who determined if the child was a Jew, even though the father determined if the son was Kohanim. If a Jewish man married a gentile woman, then the child would not be Jewish, right?

In Christ,
Andrew

The mother determines if the child is jewish, yes. There’s no “half-Kohanim” If the man marries a gentile woman, the child is not Jewish. Kohanim or otherwise. If the child converts to Judaism, he is a Jew but not a Kohanim.

 

[Harpazo]

The mother determines if the child is jewish, yes. There’s no “half-Kohanim” If the man marries a gentile woman, the child is not Jewish. Kohanim or otherwise. If the child converts to Judaism, he is a Jew but not a Kohanim.

Very interesting. Thank you! Forgive me if it seems like I’m being obtuse, but I do not see how the Kohanim and Levites can still be in existance. I must be missing something.

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[Hosh]

Very interesting. Thank you! Forgive me if it seems like I’m being obtuse, but I do not see how the Kohanim and Levites can still be in existance. I must be missing something.

In Christ,
Andrew

Genetics is providing some interesting insights.

 

[Splinker]

Very interesting. Thank you! Forgive me if it seems like I’m being obtuse, but I do not see how the Kohanim and Levites can still be in existance. I must be missing something.

In Christ,
Andrew

I’m not to sure myself, but they are. I’m a Levite, actually. And there’s a part of a our service where the Kohanim are asked to do specific things. My (ex) brother-in-law is a Kohanim.

 

[Hosh]

I’m not to sure myself, but they are. I’m a Levite, actually. And there’s a part of a our service where the Kohanim are asked to do specific things. My (ex) brother-in-law is a Kohanim.

Well… its Inbreeding, like the Amish in modern times. Some estimate that for the most part were all descended from less than 1000 people.

 

[benidict]

I’m not to sure myself, but they are. I’m a Levite, actually. And there’s a part of a our service where the Kohanim are asked to do specific things. My (ex) brother-in-law is a Kohanim.

hi, those named cohen are also descendants of the priesthood, are they not? or is this the same as the kohanim? this is really interesting. and also only they are allowed to do certain prayers and blessings in the synagouge correct? thank you for your time and God bless you and yours.

 

[Hosh]

hi, those named cohen are also descendants of the priesthood, are they not? or is this the same as the kohanim? this is really interesting. and also only they are allowed to do certain prayers and blessings in the synagouge correct? thank you for your time and God bless you and yours.

Cohen are Kohns so are Katz and sometimes those with non Kohn sounding names.

 

[Splinker]

hi, those named cohen are also descendants of the priesthood, are they not? or is this the same as the kohanim? this is really interesting. and also only they are allowed to do certain prayers and blessings in the synagouge correct? thank you for your time and God bless you and yours.

Well Kohanim are descended from the priesthood and Cohen usually means they are Kohanim. You are correct that there are speccial prayers that the Kohaim do, yes. Some conservative shuls do not make this distinction. All orthodox shuls, as far as I know, do.

 

[benidict]

Well Kohanim are descended from the priesthood and Cohen usually means they are Kohanim. You are correct that there are speccial prayers that the Kohaim do, yes. Some conservative shuls do not make this distinction. All orthodox shuls, as far as I know, do.

ok, thank you very much. i try to educate myself on my Jewish brethen as much as possible. love your people. have had opportunities to go to sabbath studies with the rabbis. loved it. so much to learn. my priest mothers side is jewish and he has incorporated this into his daily life. it has made him a much better priest in my opinion. also have studied alot of Jewish thought myself. do not think you can really understand Christianity or Christ, without a Jewish perspective. God bless your people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

 

[KyivAndrew]

Genetics is providing some interesting insights.

I find it fascinating the pattern can be found in both the Ashkenazim and the Sephardim. (goes to show the ridiculousness of Arthur Koestler’s The Thirteenth Tribe arguing a Khazar origin for the Ashkenazim which apparently one Marxist Israeli scholar believes and used in a controversial book published in Israel from last year.)

What about the Yemeni Jews, or the Persian Jews of old. I take it they can’t be pigeonholded as Sephardim. Did (do) they also have Kohanim?

 

[Splinker]

Yes re Yemen: From Wikipedia: Until the eighteenth century in Europe, nineteenth century in Yemen many kohanim could accurately trace their lineage back to a verifiable kohen such as Ezra. Today, families may verify their priestly lineage via the tombstones of deceased ancestors, as the universal symbol of the hands arranged for the Priestly Blessing is a time-honored engraving for the tombstones of kohanim. Simply having the family name of “Cohen” (Cohn, Kogan, Kagan, etc.), or “Kahanowitz” etc. (“son of Cohen”) is not sufficient proof

 

[Harpazo]

Yes re Yemen: From Wikipedia: Until the eighteenth century in Europe, nineteenth century in Yemen many kohanim could accurately trace their lineage back to a verifiable kohen such as Ezra. Today, families may verify their priestly lineage via the tombstones of deceased ancestors, as the universal symbol of the hands arranged for the Priestly Blessing is a time-honored engraving for the tombstones of kohanim. Simply having the family name of “Cohen” (Cohn, Kogan, Kagan, etc.), or “Kahanowitz” etc. (“son of Cohen”) is not sufficient proof

Very interesting. I really appreciate your sharing this information with those of us ignorant of aspects of Judaism. It has certainly been illuminating.

I don’t know if you forgot to answer this, but is it integral to the Jewish faith that the Temple be rebuilt? The reason I ask, is because I have heard some Jews say that it would be nice if it were rebuilt, but it would not necessarily matter if it were not.

Also, if the temple were to be rebuilt, would animals be used as sacrifices? It wouldn’t matter to me, but I know radical groups who care more about animals than people (PETA comes to mind) would be up in arms.

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[JaMc]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I recall hearing that there are Jews in Israel that believe a rebuilding of the Temple will usher in the End of Days. Of course there is the problem with a Muslims having a mosque on the existing site.

. . . .

Considering the degree to which tearing down the mosque would anger the Muslim community, and likely start World War III, even if it didn’t usher in the End of Days, it would be a good start if that were one’s goal…

 

[Harpazo]

Considering the degree to which tearing down the mosque would anger the Muslim community, and likely start World War III, even if it didn’t usher in the End of Days, it would be a good start if that were one’s goal…

I would agree. I know that a large number of Evangelicals were obsessed with the idea for a while, going so far as to raise money to send Jews to Israel from the diaspora. However, I don’t really keep up with Evangelicals that much to know if they still cling to this idea.

In Christ,
Andrew