intended to increase the knowledge, interest, and anticipation of the reader, thereby hastening the realization of our hopes and prayers for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Beit HaMikdash.

One more on the Metzora
The Purification of the ‘Leper’ – Phase II
On the morning of the 8th day, the Metaheir, the ex-Metzora in the process of purification, was permitted to enter the Ezrat Nashim. He brought with him three "unblemished" animals: a male lamb for an Asham (guilt offering), a ewe lamb for a Chatat (sin offering), and another male lamb for an Olah, (burnt offering) (Vayikra14:10). An indigent Metaheir had to take “only one male lamb for an Asham to provide atonement for him and two turtledoves or two young doves....one shall be a Chatat and one an Olah” (Vayikra 14:21). The Metaheir also brought with him Nesachim. The Nesachim which normally accompanied certain Korbanot consisted of fine flour mixed with olive oil plus a measure of wine. When the Korban was offered on the Mizbei'ach, the fine flour mixed with oil (which was first salted) was cast into the flames and the wine (unsalted) was poured as a libation into one of the silver cups located on the southwest corner. Nesachim do not usually accompany an Asham or Chatat, but since these Korbanot were associated with the purification of the Metzora, they were an exception to the rule (Menachot 90b). The sages are at variance as to why. The Metaheir also brought to the Mikdash a jar containing one Log (approx. 350ml.) of oil.

Upon entering the Ezrat Nashim, the Metaheir immersed himself in one of the Mikva’ot in Lishkat HaMetzora'im (Chamber of "Lepers") (Nega’im 14:8). This chamber was located in the northwest corner of the Ezrat Nashim (Midot 2:5) to the right of the stairs leading to Sha'ar Nicanor (Nicanor's Gate), the main entrance to theAzara. (Lishkat HaMetzora'im is actually a misnomer. Before he was admitted to Lishkat HaMetzora'im, all the Metaheir’s symptoms of Tzara'at had long vanished as had already been orally verified by a Kohein as a result of a visual inspection.) This last Tevila (immersion) was not part of the process of purification. Itwas merely the usual Tevila required of all men, even though they were in a state of purity, before they passed through Sha'ar Nicanor and entered the Azara (Yoma 3:3). After his immersion, the Metaheir waited by the Lishkat HaMetzora'im with his three animals, the Nesachim, and the Log of oil, for the arrival of a Koheinwho would then escort him up the stairs to Sha'ar Nicanor. He was not permitted to ascend the stairs and enter the passageway of Sha'ar Nicanor himself (Vayikra 14:11). The Kohein positioned the Metaheir in the passageway of the Sha'ar Nicanor which opened on to the Azara. The passage ways of other gates - "the thickness of the walls" - leading into the Azara were “sanctified" but the passage way of Sha'ar Nicanor was not. "Why was (the passage way) of Sha'ar Nicanor not sanctified? Because Metzora'im (are able to) stand there and insert the thumbs of their hands into the Azara (where they are not permitted to stand)" (Pesachim 85b). TheMetaheir, standing in the passageway of Sha'ar Nicanor, faced the Azara. The Kohein first took the Asham – the lamb for the guilt offering and the jar of oil “and waved them as a wave offering before the Lord” (Vayikra 14:24, Menachot 5:6).

As a rule, when offering Korbanot in the Mikdash, a Chatat preceded an Asham; how- ever in this case, since the sacrifice of the Asham permitted the Mitaheir to enter the Azara (which had been previously forbidden to him), the Asham was sacrificed first. Even so, the Metaheir did not yet enter the Azara and the Kohein broughtthe sacrificial lamb to Sha'ar Nicanor where he was still standing in the passageway. The Metaheir then stretched his hands into the Azara, placed them on the head of the lamb, pressed down, and made a confession of sin. Immediately afterwards, the lamb was led to the area north of the Mizbei'ach where the Kodshei Kodashim (sacrifices of a higher level of sanctity) were slaughtered. There the lamb was lowered to the ground and slaughtered. The Asham of the Metzora was unique among all Korbanot in that two Kohanim received the blood after slaughter (Hilchot Mechusrei Kaparah 4:2). One Kohein caught the blood gushing from the neck of the animalin a Kli Shareit (sacred vessel) in the usual manner, and the other received blood in his cupped right hand. The Kohein who received the blood in a Kli Shareit conveyed it to the Mizbei'ach and tossed the blood according to the rites of the Asham, on the northeast corner and then on the southwest corner. The Kohein whohad received the blood in the palm of his hand approached the Metaheir. “…and the Kohein shall take some of the Asham’s blood and place it on the middle part of the right ear of the Metaheir (“Tenuch Ozen” is defined as the middle part of the ear. Sifra, Parshat Metzora 5:3), on the thumb of his right hand, and on thebig toe of his right foot.”

“The Kohein took of the log of oil and poured it on his fellow's hand… The Kohein shall sprinkle with his right forefinger some of the oil that is in his left palm seven times before G-d (in the direction of Kodesh HaKodashim) …dipping anew for each sprinkling… (Nega'im 14:10). "The Kohein shall place some of the oil thatis (still) on his palm upon the middle of the right ear of the Metaheir, on the thumb of his right hand and the big toe of his right foot – where he placed the blood of the guilt offering." The act of placing the blood of the Asham, and then afterwards the oil, on the right ear, thumb and toe of the Metaheir is calledMatan Behonot. The Torah continues, "And the rest of the oil that is on the Kohein's palm, he shall place on the head of the Metaheir; to provide him with atonement before G-d” (Vayikra 14:25–29).

Note that it is the placing of the oil on the head of the Metaheir by the Kohein that effects the atonement. The Asham wasthen sacrificed. The Kohein brought over the ewe lamb that was to be the Chatat. The Metaheir, still standing in the passageway of Sha'ar Nicanor, leaned over, placed his hands on the head of the animal, pressed down and again confessed his sins. The ewe lamb was led away to the area north of the Mizbei'ach and slaughtered.One Kohein received the blood in a Kli Shareit and applied it to the ‘horns’ of the Mizbei'ach. The moment the Kohein finished applying the blood to the Mizbei'ach, the Metaheir was enabled to enter the Azara just like any other Yisrael in a state of ritual purity. The Metaheir then entered the Azara to offer his Olahand stood next to his sacrificial lamb. He placed his hands on the head of the animal, pressed down, made a final confession of sin and then said words of praise and thanksgiving. The Olah, his third and last Korban, was then sacrificed. The atonement and purification of the Metaheir, the ex-Metzora, was complete.

Catriel is in the process of writing a book: The Temple of Jerusalem, A Pilgrims Prospective; A Guided Tour through the Temple and the Divine Service

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