How can an Orthodox Jewish vegetarian pray for the restoration of the Temple sacrificial services?
This response is based on an essay by Rabbi David Rosen. He remindsus that Maimonides believed that the sacrifices were a concession to the times and that Rabbi Kook felt that the messianic period in which the Temple would be rebuilt will be a vegetarian period, and that the Temple service can be maintained without animal sacrifices, as is indicated by the previously mentioned teaching that states that “in the future all sacrifices will be abolished, except for meal offerings.” He argues that the liturgy in the Sabbath and festival musaph (additional) service need not be understood as expressing a hope for the restoration of animal sacrifices. Rather, it can be interpreted as a recognition on our part of the devotion and dedication to God that our ancestors showed and an expression of our hope that we may be inspired to show the same spirit of devotion in our own way.