How was the curtain (parokhet) separating off the Holy of Holies cleaned? Or was it? With all the blood sprinkled on it wouldn’t it get ‘smelly’?

There is a much more general question: How did Temple repairs take place? The particular question that you ask – how did the Paroceth get cleaned – is a specific example of this general question, since the cleaning of stains is the way curtains are ‘repaired.’ In the rest of the note I outline who did the repairs, how they were funded, and then return to the stains on the curtains.Repairs were done to the Temple the same way they were done to ordinary buildings. Repair crews came in and fixed the items. There was no requirement that those entering were priests though they did have to be ritually clean.

The following citation from Eruvin 105a supports this:” Our Rabbis taught: All may enter the Hekal (Sanctuary) to build, to repair or to take out uncleanness. It is a religious duty, however, that the priests should do it. If no priests are available Levites may enter. If no Levites are available Israelites may enter. But in all these cases only levitically clean persons may enter. Those who are levitically unclean may not.”

The repairs for the temple were funded through a repair fund. There is an interesting Biblical story (Kings 2 chapter 22), showing how these funds were collected and for what they were used. I urge you to read it.

One could also “dedicate” animals for the “sake of the repair of the Temple.”

The above guidelines apply to all repairs. Let me return to your specific question of “Stains from blood.” Most blood was sprinkled on the altar. The altar was exposed to blood, fire and slaughtered animals. It was probably more in need of repairs then most items. The Bible itself describes an ash-cleansing ceremony (Lev Chapter 6).

However other repairs were done as outlined above by a “crew” of people that were funded through the Temple repair fund.

Respectfully
Russell Jay Hendel;