The Land of Israel
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Terumah and Maaser Nowadays
What is done with terumah and maaser nowadays? Nowadays the Levites' tithe is separated and kept (since anyone can eat it); the kohanim's 1% (plus a token amount for terumah) is separated and destroyed (because it can only be eaten…
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Herod's Temple
Was Herod's Temple the Third Temple? Herod completely rebuilt the Temple, but it was still regarded as the Second Temple.
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Shoes
What kind of shoes did the priests (kohanim) wear in the Temple? They went barefoot; see Talmud, Zevachim 24a, and Rambam, Hilchos Bias Mikdash Ch.5.
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Levites
What is a Levite? A Levite is a descendant (in the male line) of Jacob's son Levi.
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The Luchos
Where were the luchos kept before the Mishkan was built? The second luchos were put into a wooden ark as soon as they were given; see Deut.10:1-5. The broken first luchos were also kept in the ark; see Berachos 8b.
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Seven-Branched Candelabra
Is a seven-branched candelabra permitted? Making a seven-branched menorah is prohibited by the Talmud (Menachot 28a, Avodah Zarah 43a), the Rambam (Beit ha-Bechirah 10:7), and the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 141:8). This applies only to a metal menorah. The Shulchan…
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The Eternal Light
Was there an eternal light in the Temple? The westernmost of the lights in the menorah burned perpetually (Talmud Shabbat 22b). (The menorah stood against the south wall of the tabernacle, so the westernmost light was the one on the…
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The Division of the Land among the Tribes
How was the land divided among the twelve tribes? The Talmud (Bava Basra 122a) says that the division of the land was done by lot, using the Urim ve-Tumim. This was a Divinely controlled mechanism, so there was no doubt…
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Horeb and Sinai
Was Mount Horeb the same as Mount Sinai? The Talmud (Shabbos 89) quotes different views about whether Sinai or Horeb was the principal name of the mountain. It has been suggested that since “Horeb” is mentioned many times, and “Mount…