Question:
If Jews can no longer hold ceremonies and sacrifices in the Temple,
Does this mean that they are always in sin?
Answer:
Indeed, at the time of the Temple, a sinful person would make a sacrifice and forgive for the sin, and now there is no Temple that makes a sacrifice to forgive for us.
However, the Sages have already said that while there is no Temple, the reading of ‘parashat korbanot’ is instead of the sacrifice itself. Therefore, the Sages placed the tefila of ‘parashat korbanot’ before the prayer.
As explained in the Gemara in Megillah 31: When our forefather Avraham asked from hashem what sins would atone for the people of Israel, he told him in sacrifices, and asked him what he would atone for when there was no Temple. The Almighty replied to him, I have already replaced the reading of ‘parashat korbanot’ that as long as they read it I will consider it as they are sacrificing before me a sacrifice, and I forgive them all their sins.
Blessed that we will soon receive the building of our temple
Rabbi David Ohayon
Jerusalem, the Holy City
Sources and reasoning
