Rav Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer (19th cen., Poland) famously proposed bringing sacrifices today (i.e., the 1860’s) even though there is no Temple standing. He brilliantly argues in his 1862 book, Derishas Tziyon, that there is no need for a Temple in order to bring sacrifices. He was roundly critiqued by the greatest scholars of his day, but since he was in their league he continued debating the subject.
Rav Ya’akov Ettlinger (19th cen., Germany) wrote a response to Rav Kalischer, now printed as the first responsum in his 1868 collection of responsa, Binyan Tziyon. Rav Ettlinger summarizes Rav Kalischer’s main arguments and disputes them. He then offers his own counterproof from the verse: “I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas” (Lev. 26:31). After the destruction, God will not “smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas,” i.e. accept sacrifices. Therefore, we may not bring sacrifices until the Temple is rebuilt. (Netziv (19th cen., Russia; Ha’amek Davar, Lev. 26:31) offers the same reading of the verse but adds that since the Pesach sacrifice is not considered a sweet aroma, it alone may be offered today.)
In 1868, Rav Kalischer published additions to Derishas Tziyon in a booklet titled Shelom Yerushalayim. He appended to that booklet a response to Rav Ettlinger’s critique titled Shivas Tziyon. This essay includes notes titled Mikhtav Me-Eliyahu by Rav Eliyahu Guttmacher, a colleague and supporter of Rav Kalischer.
From Torah Musings, here.
