ABSTRACT
Temples were considered bonds between heaven and earth in ancient cultures. Mount Olympus in Greece was considered to be both the meeting place of the gods and the meeting place of heaven and earth. The Mespotamians built their temples in the shape of the sacred mountain. Likewise, several rabbinic legends depict the Temple Mount as a sort of “cosmic capstone” that keeps the world together.1
Mt. Sinai, where God spoke to Israel out of a holy fire, was a sacred meeting place between the two. Later, this fire hovered over and took up residence within the sanctuary, making God’s presence a permanent, visible reality among the people. The frequent phrase from Leviticus, Ohel Mo’ed, “Tent of Meeting,” indicates the purpose of the sanctuary: a meeting place between God and his people.2
