The Temple
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Sacrificial Locations
I have been reading the Torah, and would like to know the significance of the west, east, north and south directions of how the animals were sacrificed on the altar? There must be a significance of each direction, but I…
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Atonement today
We find offerings and slaughterings as atonement for sins. If this is the way in which we always received atonement, this is the format in which G-d wishes to atone for our sins. In which case, how do we atone…
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What accompanied the sacrifices?
When aminals were sacrificed, either prior to the Golden Calf incident, when performed privately by persons such as Noah or Abraham, or for that matter, during the temple period, what kinds of prayers or incantations accompanied the sacrifices? There were…
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The Ark and the Levites
It is my understanding that: – The Ark lid weighed over a ton, notwithstanding the cherubim or the coffer itself, which was double-plated inside and out with gold. – The Ark was transported by four men (Levites) How four men…
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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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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 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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Levites
What is a Levite? A Levite is a descendant (in the male line) of Jacob's son Levi.
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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.