The Temple
-
Breastplate of the High Priest
Could you please tell me how the Urim and Tumin (the High Priest’s breastplate) worked? The Urim and Thummim were 12 precious (or semi precious) stones which were attached to a breastplate worn by the Kohein Gadol (High Priest). Each…
-
Who’s a Levi and Who’s a Cohain
The Torah tells us that Aaron and his sons (The descendants of Levi) are the priests. Then, why are the Cohains known as priests? Only Aaron and his sons were chosen to be priests from among all of the tribe…
-
Animal Sacrifice, Chicken Waving, and Stoning of Children
Do people still do burnt offerings nowadays with animals? I hope not. I know we no longer obey laws of stoning rebellious children to death. I have heard about the chicken twirling on Yom Kippur, also no longer practiced among…
-
Does G-d need our sacrifices?
If G-d does not eat, why do we bring animal offerings in the Temple? Anything we do “for G-d” is only from our perspective, not His. G-d is perfect. That which is perfect cannot become anything more than what it…
-
The Branches of the Menorah
I thougt that a Menorah had seven arms, but I saw several Menorah’s with nine arms. Would you be so kind to tell me, how many arms belong to the real menorah? In the Bible (Exodus 25:31) G-d explains to…
-
Height of the Original Menorah
A friend of mine ,a retired engineer, ask the height of the menorah which stood in front of the original Temple in Jerusalem. I believe it was 18 tephachim, or three amos, about 5 feet tall. Rabbi Yaakov Rosenblatt Dallas,…
-
Fire in the Temple on the Sabbath
Why were they allowed to light a fire on Shabbat in the Temple for the sacrifices if the Torah says not to light fire on Shabbat? That is not the only Shabbat prohibition allowed in the Temple. Another example is…
-
The Ineffable Name
I was taught that the name of G-d was so great that mere man could not say it…..What is the name we are not supposed to say? I have been thinking about this and realize that I was told that…
-
Breastplate of the High Priest
Which stones were on the breastplate of the High Priest in the Temple and which stone corresponded to which tribe? Exodus 28 – with the commentary of Rashi: 17. And you shall fill into it stone fillings, four rows of…