For the First Time in 2,000 Years: Kohanim Offered a Sacrifice at the Temple Site

On Shavuot, Jews who ascended the Temple Mount brought with them the "Two Loaves" sacrifice. The activists, who are priests, donned priestly garments and rushed to the presumed location of the altar, where they offered the two loaves, until they were stopped by the police and Waqf officials.

This is the first time a sacrifice has been offered at the Temple site since its destruction, according to sources from the Temple Mount movement. “The Two Loaves sacrifice was offered at the site of the Temple courtyard and was properly elevated by a priest dressed in priestly garments, all under the halachic supervision and guidance of Rabbi Israel Ariel, head of the Temple Yeshiva and president of the Temple Institute.”

The Offering of the Two Loaves

“The priest sanctified his hands and feet in the courtyard area using a ritual vessel, and then received the bag containing the two loaves from someone else who managed to bring them to him despite Waqf attempts to prevent it. The priest succeeded in elevating the loaves before the police removed him from the courtyard area.”

There are differing reports as to whether the priests actually managed to wave the loaves of bread, per the ritual, or whether their efforts were thwarted at the last minute.

After the offering, Rabbi Israel Ariel, overcome with emotion, recited the Shehecheyanu blessing in a choked voice, and the crowd responded with "Amen."

In response, the "Returning to the Mount" movement stated: “We salute the activists who renewed the Temple service for the first time in 2,000 years. Renewing the priestly service and the offering of sacrifices on the Temple Mount is the only solution to end the multi-front war and bring back the hostages. We call on the Israeli government to pass a government decision tomorrow to resume the order of sacrificial services.”