The Temple
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Kohanim
Who are the Jewish priests (kohanim)? The Kohanim (Hebrew plural of Kohen) are the male descendants of Aaron. Most of the service in the Temple could be conducted only by Kohanim.
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A Kohen who Sins
Is a Kohen who sins allowed to serve in the Temple? If a Kohen becomes an apostate, his service is invalid; see Ezekiel 44:12-13. A Kohen who is a chronic sinner should not be allowed to serve (Aruch Ha-Shulchan He-Asid,…
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Uncleanness in Jewish Law
What is the significance of “uncleanness” in Jewish law? Many things make a person “unclean” according to Jewish law — contact with a corpse, for example. An unclean person was not allowed to enter the Temple; but since the destruction…
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Non-Levite Kohanim
Were the Kohanim ever non-Levites? Was Samuel a Kohen? Before the Torah was given, the first-born served as priests; thus in those days each family had its own priest, who was not a Levite unless the family was from the…
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The Tachash
What animal was the Tachash whose skin was used in the Tabernacle? The Talmud (Shabbos 28:a-b) tells us that it was a multicolored kosher animal that had one horn, and that it has not existed since Moses’ time. Some scholars…
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The Scapegoat
Was the scapegoat sent away to wander freely in the desert? The Torah, in referring to the sending away of the scapegoat in the desert (Lev.16:22), uses the term “eretz gezerah”. Targum Onkelos translates “gezerah” as “uninhabited”, but Targum Yonasan…
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The Fire on the Altar
How was a fire kept buring permanently on the Altar? A large supply of wood was kept on hand, and the ashes were periodically cleaned away. There was plenty of room on the altar to keep the fire burning in…
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The First Fruits
When were first fruits brought to the Temple? First fruits could be brought to the Temple at any time between Shavuos and Chanukah.
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The Sin Offering of the Leper and Yoledes
Why do a leper and a woman who has given birth have to bring a sin offering? The sages say that "leprosy" is a consequence of slanderous speech; this is a spiritual cause, not a medical cause, and it may…