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From: teitz@aecom.UUCP (Eliyahu Teitz)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Re: the location of the Temple Mount
Message-ID: <2157@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 31-Dec-85 09:29:28 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.2157
Posted: Tue Dec 31 09:29:28 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 2-Jan-86 19:47:55 EST
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Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
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> > > [original posting -- what is the latitude and longitude of the
> > >  Temple Mount (and altitude, too, if you know it)? ]
> > 
> > The Book of Ezekial (Sefer Yecheskel), one of the books of the "Prophets"
> > portion of the Bible, contains a long section discussing how the future
> > Third Temple will be built and conducted.  In it, the prophet specifically
> > says that the Third Temple will NOT be built at the site of the previous two,
> > but rather at a significant distance from it(close to, but outside Jerusalem,
> > I think).  Does anyone know whether or not this has generally been accepted
> > at face value, whether or not it has had any halachic implications on the
> > status of the old Temple site, or why it is ignored by the "zealots" who
> > publicly proclaim their imminent preparation to rebuild the Temple at its
> > former site?
> 
> This is fascinating.  Let me then expand my question.  What are the latitudes
> and longitudes of both locations?  Toward which site should we face when we pray?


	I'm not sure whether we have to know the exact latitude and longitude
 of the Temple in orde to know which direction to face when praying. We face
 the direction of Israel when we pray. Those in Israel face Jerusalem, tose
  in Jerusalem the Temple, those in the Temple the Holy of Holies, and the 
 High Priest, when he enters the Holy of Holies ( where the Ark of the
 Covenant was located ) on Yom Kippur, faces the Ark. The Talmud ( as usual
 I am afraid I don't have the exact source at hand ) when discussing prayer
 says that if one wants riches he should face slightly northward, and one
 who wants wisdom should face slightly southward ( it might be backwards
 I'm not sure ). So facing the exact spot isn't absolutely necessary. It
 would also be slightly impractical because you would have to check your
 position every time you pray unless you always pray from the exact same
 spot.


				Eliyahu Teitz.

 p.s. The question, though, of the exact location is still an interesting one.
 As I posted earlier, the exact location is unknown.