Visualizing the Beit Hamikdash

With the 3 weeks almost upon us, as we begin to decrease our joy and yearn for the Beit Hamikdash, it's a good time to visualize it in our davening and learn about it - so here is a great site I just heard about with links to places where one can learn about the details of constructing the Beit Hamikdash -
http://baishamikdosh.blogspot.com/
The reasoning for this being as follows (as quoted from the above site):
"Should the construction of My House be ignored because My children are in exile?"G-d declared: "THE STUDY OF THE TORAH'S DESIGN OF THE BET HAMIKDASH CAN BE EQUATED TO ITS ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION.Go, tell them to study the form of the Bet Hamikdash. As a reward for their study and their occupation with it, I will consider it AS IF THEY ACTUALLY BUILT THE BET HAMIKDASH!!!" (Yalkut Shimoni)

Thank you, Rabbi A for alerting me to the above site!

From Today's Hakhel Email, here is a discussion about visualizing the Beit Hamikdash in one's davening:
Special Note Four: In his classic commentary on the Mishna, Rabbeinu Ovadiah MiBartenura teaches that upon entering the Azarah, when bringing Bikkurim, one would recite the last Chapter of Tehillim (Tehillim 150)--“Halelukah Hallelu Kel Bekadsho.” In fact, we recite this very chapter daily as one of the climactic moments of Pesukei DeZimra. Why? Rabbi Shimshon Pincus, Z'tl, teaches that when reciting Pesukei DeZimra one should view himself as if he is in the Azara! We should not let the daily moment of our recital of this short but powerful Kepitel go by without visualizing our presence in the Azara--as we prepare to enter even further into the Bais HaMikdash, getting into the Heichal for Birkas Kriyas Shema...until we stand before the Kodesh Hakodashim itself as we recite Shemone Esrei. If we can begin to visualize ourselves in the Bais HaMikdash every time we daven Shacharis, coming closer and closer and closer to Hashem's Presence as we proceed through davening--we should naturally have a much easier time walking in, viewing and experiencing--and not only visualizing--the Third and Lasting Bais HaMikdash--may it come speedily and in *our* days!

From the Midbar to the Mikdash

Here is some more about Birkat Kohanim - from today's Hahkel Email. May we merit to be blessed by the Kohanim in the Beit Hamikdash with the coming of Mashiach ASAP!

3. Finally, there is a wonderful lesson learned from the fact that Birkas Kohanim was first recited in the desert--before the Aharon and his sons received Terumos, Bikkurim and the like as the Matanos Kehuna. If they would have already been receiving these gifts, then in blessing the people they would also be blessing themselves--for when the people had more bounty, so would they. This is not the optimum way of giving a bracha--blessing someone else with one's personal interests in mind as well. Rather, the Torah teaches--when giving a bracha give it with a full and selfless heart--focusing exclusively and entirely on what is best for the recipient of the bracha, and not regarding for the moment how you could 'also' benefit from the very same blessing. Be effusive in your bracha--but also make sure to make it pristine, wholesome, untainted and pure!