Rashi and Tosfos (Succah 41a) both learn that that the third Beis HaMikdosh will fall from Heaven completely built. Whereas the Rambam (Hilchos Melochim 11:1,4) maintains that Moshiach will build the Beis HaMikdosh. How do we reconcile these diverse opinions? Moreover, how can we understand Rashi's opinion? How can we be yotzei with a Beis HaMikdosh of fire? There are halachos about how to build the Beis HaMikdosh. Would we be yotzei with Tefillin that fell from shomayim? They must be made of real leather with the right kavanos. The Beis HaMikdosh has similar laws. How can we be yotzei with a Heavenly sent Beis HaMikdosh?
The Ramchal, in Mishknei Elyon writes that the 3rd Beis HaMikdosh will descend spiritually from heaven at the appointed time, and then we will build the physical structure over it.
Where is this spiritual structure being erected? Rav Moshe Cordevero answers that really we ourselves are building the Beis HaMikdosh. Everyone who builds a Jewish home and brings Hakodosh Boruch Hu into his life is laying another building block onto the Beis HaMikdosh. We build it brick by brick until it is finished in Shomayaim built of Heavenly fire and when we're ready, Hashem will bring it down.
[Rav Osher Weiss writes that the Sanzer Rebbe (the Divrei Chaim) was once conducting a tisch with his chassidim when he suddenly looked up and announced, “I see that the Beis HaMikdosh is fully built in heaven and ready to come down - it is just missing a paroches [a special curtain].” One of his chassidim shouted out “why don't you make the paroches Rebbe?” The Rebbe's response gives us an insight into the effects of our mitzvos. With fire in his eyes he declared, “I did make the paroches,” said the Rebbe, “it's just that some rosha came and removed it with his aveiros.”]
This concept is very difficult for our generation to understand. If Klal Yisroel are building the Beis HaMikdosh, how can we expect it to come in our times? In previous generations the Yidden were much more spiritually elevated. There were Gedolim and Tzaddikim, and yet they couldn't bring down the Beis HaMikdosh. So, in our lowly generation when we have so few Gedolim and Tzaddikim, and unfortunately they aren't as great as previous times, how can we be expected to build it?
We can understand with a moshol. It says in Tehillim: אבן מאסו הבונים הייתה לראש פינה - “The stone that the builders despised became the pinnacle of the corner.” There was once a King. He said to his populace, “I want you to build my palace; I want a coronation.” He gave them exactly enough bricks and they got to work. The bricklayer picked up a stone, but it was problematic. What did he do? He put it aside and used a better one. The next bricklayer picks it up too; but he can't use it, either. So, he puts it down. Why bother with it? There are so many good bricks.
Finally, the palace is all finished and they're just putting on the finishing touches; some masonry work and decorative trimmings and trappings on the towers at the corners of the palace. What's a tower? A tower is the highest point of a building. Everyone sees it, so it publicizes that this is the palace of the king. A tower has to represent royalty. Now when the workers got to the finishing touches they ran out of stones. They had been given an exact number and every stone was accounted for. Finally, this stone which had been waiting so long and was discarded over and over again, gets its turn. They have to pick it up, brush it off, and where does it go? בראש פינה, on the pinnacle of the tower!
We are all stones in the future Beis HaMikdosh which we hope will be built speedily in our days. Every Jew has his role in the palace of the king. Every Jew is accounted for; there is not one extra Jew. The stones that the builders despised will eventually find their place at the top of the palace. Our lowly neshamos have been kicked around and cast aside for generations; but for how long? Now we're at the end; the final trimmings, the top of the tower has to be built and they have to put us into the edifice.
And our place is not just another brick in the building. Our place is at the top of the tower. Our generation has been chosen to announce to the world that Hashem is King. (R’ Eliezer Parkoff)
