The Beit HaMikdash Flag: Inspiration or Obsession?

A new symbol has begun appearing in Orthodox neighborhoods: flags depicting the Beit HaMikdash. What explains their growing popularity? Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein and Rabbi Simi Lerner explore what these flags represent, why they resonate with so many Jews, and what they reveal about contemporary Orthodox attitudes toward nationalism, religious identity, and the longing for redemption. Along the way, they discuss whether Judaism needs symbols to rally around, why the Beit HaMikdash can feel more mythical than historical, the impact of Rabbi Stefansky's visual revolution in Torah learning, and the surprising ways Jews can learn from the religious passion of non-Jews. The conversation ranges from Chazal and Rav Hirsch to Al-Aqsa, Charlie Kirk, and the challenge of making Jewish ideals feel concrete in everyday life. What happens when an ancient dream becomes a modern symbol? And what does that symbol say about where the Orthodox world is heading?