JBrick to Unveil Microscale Model of Herodian Temple at Brickworld Chicago

Some people think about Lego while they are supposed to be working, and some people think about Lego because they are working. Yitzy Kasowitz is one of those lucky individuals who is paid to design and build with Lego (once you earn a salary from it we don't call it 'playing' any more). He is a member of the Brickmania team, a company that builds and sells Lego military models. Being around all that Lego must be inspiring, because Yitzy has spun off his own company called Jbrick that designs and sells Jewish-themed Lego sets. In addition to his beautiful menorahs and Seder plates, Jbrick is about to unveil an amazing new model sure to capture the imagination of young and old alike.


This weekend over 400 Lego artists, engineers, and experts will gather in Chicago to showcase their models to the public at the Brickworld® Lego fair. This event for Lego lovers features 66,000 square feet filled with displays, interactive activities and vendors. While Yitzy Kasowitz will be there to help out with Brickmania's display of mini military might, his own new model comes in peace. Pieces, actually. About 10,000 of them.

Yitzy has researched and designed a microscale (about 1/600) version of the Herodian Second Temple as it would have looked in the year 68 CE. This model is packed with details gleaned from Jewish and historical sources. You can see the famous Herodian fortress of Antonia at the northwestern corner, the colonnade which surrounded the interior of the Temple Mount walls, and the raised walkways leading onto the Temple Mount from the city of Jerusalem.

Yitzy Kasowitz's Lego model of the Second Temple (photo: Jbrick)

Yitzy Kasowitz shows his model at his children's school (photo: Jbrick)

On the eastern side of the Temple is the Women's Courtyard with its open-air chambers. Prominent in this courtyard are the large torches used during the Rejoicing of the Water Drawing which took place each year on Succos.

View of the model from the northwestern corner (photo: Jbrick)

From the shape of the Sanctuary Building one can see right away that this model follows the view of the Rambam. This also explains why the Hall of the Fire (Beis Hamoked) is situated entirely outside the Courtyard, again following the Rambam's view. Yitzy says that there are even more details inside the model which are not visible in the pictures, so this is definitely something worth seeing in person.

I want to wish Yitzy much success with his model and may we merit to see the real Temple speedily in our days!

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