Zecher L'mikdash: Remembering the Beit Hamikdash

What is "Zecher L'Mikdash"? Thanks

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

There are two categories of practices that we have do to help us remember the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

The more familiar of these practices are the “Zecher L’churban” practices, which are practices intended to remind us of the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. The other, a little lesser-known, are the “Zecher L’mikdash” practices, which are practices intended to remind us of religious life in the Beit Hamikdash. These two concepts are actually unrelated to one another.

Let us focus on Zecher L’mikdash as per your question.

It is explained that when the prophet said “For I shall restore your health and heal your wounds, says Hashem. For they have called you an outcast, saying: This is Zion whom no one seeks” it was a reference to performing Zecher L’mikdash practices, namely, “seeking Zion” by remembering what used to take place in the Beit Hamikdash.

Among the more prominent Zecher L’mikdash practices nowadays are found on Sukkot. Nowadays, we shake the lulav and etrog on all seven days of Sukkot even though it is only truly required on the first day of Sukkot. In the Beit Hamikdash, however, it was used all 7 days of the holiday which is the universal practice nowadays. So to the, the circling of the synagogue on every day of Sukkot (and seven times on Hoshana Rabba) is a Zecher L’mikdash practice. Even the Simchat Beit Hashoeva celebration is held Zecher L’mikdash.

According to some authorities, the synagogue lighting of the Chanuka menorah is done as a Zecher L’mikdash as in the Beit Hamikdash the menorah was lit every evening. Indeed, the synagogue the menorah is placed on the southern wall just as it was in the Beit Hamikdash.

Pesach also has a few Zecher L’mikdash practices, such as: eating the matza and marror sandwich, and, according to some, the eating of marror is only practiced nowadays Zecher L’mikdash. This is because the mitzva of marror only truly applies when there is a Korban Pesach – Passover offering. Some add that the counting of the Omer is Zecher L'mikdash related.

While there are many other Zecher L’mikdash practices, let us conclude with a reminder that Zecher L’mikdash practices are not to be confused with Zecher L’churban ones. Zecher L’churban practices are intended to be mournful while Zecher L’mikdash practices are meant to be educational, inspirational, and exciting.

Yirmiyahu 30:17; Sukkot 41a; Rosh Hashana 30a; Pesachim 115a; Menachot 66a; Rambam, Hilchot Lulav 7:13–15; Kol Bo 44; Beit Yosef , OC 671.