Ketoret in Hand, the Kohein Stood Alone - A Story Having done that, the assistant turned reverently in the direction of the Kodesh Hakodashim, bowed in adoration, and exited the Heichal. No one was permitted to remain in the Heichal or even linger in the area between the Bayit and the Sacrificial Altar when a Kohein offered Ketoret on the Mizbach Hazahav. Contemplating his Ketoret-filled hands, instinctively, Meir lifted his eyes and studied the blue, purple, and crimson curtains that separated the Heichal from the Kodesh Hakodashim. Exhilarated, he felt as if he was seeing them for the first time. Mesmerized by the soaring aurated walls around him and spellbound by the sheer beauty of the deeply carved paneled ceiling high above him, suddenly it hit him. He was all alone in G-d’s House, the earthly resting place of the Shechina! This is the place where heaven and earth meet! For some reason, something he read long ago popped into his head. “’I have been falling from the rim of a great high place, somewhere back in time, for many more years than I have lived this life. And for all these years’ I have been waiting only for this!” As Meir pushed his cupped hands tightly together so that the Ketoret granules imprisoned within would not fall out, he began to tremble with awe. He thought, “This is going to be the only time in my whole life that I will be privileged to offer incense before Mi She’amar Ve’haya Ha’olam - He Who Spoke and the Universe Came into Being! Like, WOW!” Exulted and energized, he turned his eyes back to the radiant Mizbach Hazahavin front of him and lovingly gazed at the heaped up glowing coals reposing there. Standing alone in the Heichal before G-d, Meir Hakohein waited with anticipation for the Memuneh’s signal to begin. Like Meir Hakohein, all the Kohanim wanted to offer Ketoret on the Mizbach Hazahav. For this reason, the Mikdash authorities instituted a "lottery" among the Kohanim of the Mishmeret who were to serve that day. The Piyus that ascertained who would offer the incense was the third of four such "lotteries" instituted in the Mikdash (Yoma 2:2,4). However, there was one proviso. The Kohein Gadol had the prerogative of nullifying the results of the "lottery" and offering the Ketoret himself if he so chose (Yoma 1:2). There was no Avoda that was more beloved by the Kohanim than Haktarat Haketoret. The older Kohanim said that the Maktirei Ketoret- those who offered Ketoret - became the beneficiaries of Divine blessing and prosperity. (Was it not written? "They shall place incense before Your presence…" and immediately afterward, "Bless O Lord his substance, and favor the work of his hands… [D'varim 33:10,11]? Note Yoma 2:4 Bartenura.] For this reason, "Only kohanim who had never had the privilege of offering the incense were permitted to participate in this lottery" (Yoma 26a). A Kohein offered Ketoret on the Mizbach Hazahav only once in his lifetime, it was the climax of his priestly service in the Mikdash. "How did they conduct the lottery? [In the morning], the kohanim who had already immersed in the Mikva and arrayed themselves in their special garments, would proceed to the Chamber of Hewn Stone - the seat of the Sanhedrin. One of its members would be on hand [to supervise and insure the fairness of the lottery]. The kohanim would arrange themselves in a circle with the Memuneh - the supervising Kohein - standing in the middle. They would choose a number considerably larger than the sum total of kohanim present. Then each kohein would raise one or two fingers (but not the thumbs). The Memuneh, who did not know the number chosen, would then remove the turban from one of the kohanim and would then start counting the extended fingers. When the Memuneh reached the agreed upon number - that kohein secured the privilege of offering the incense. The kohein who had his turban removed then replaced it on his head" (Yoma 2:1, Tif'eret Yisrael 8). And wonder of wonders! Meir Hakohein had finally won the Payis! After all these years! He was ecstatic! He would offer Ketoret on the Mizbach Hazahav that very day! How he wished that he could call his wife Yehudit and tell her! However, at that moment, a venerable Kohein from Beit Avtinas, the ancient priestly family who "was over the Ketoret", appeared and silently led Meir into a side room and began to review with him the rudiments of Haktarat Haketoret. Alone, facing the Mizbach Hazahav and the Kodesh Hakodashim, Meir Hakohein waited. Then he heard a familiar voice, it was the Memuneh calling from outside. "Be careful that you do not begin sprinkling the incense on the coals immediately in front of you or else you may get burnt" (Hil. Temidin U'mussafin 3:8). ("Ha'avoda!" Meir said to himself, "He's right! I almost forgot!") His cupped hands full of Ketoret, Meir stood to the east of the Mizbach Hazahav and recited the requisite B'racha with great feeling, "…Asher Kid'shanu Bik'dushato Shel Aharon V'tzivanu Al Haktarat Hak'toret." Then he recited the Shehecheyanu. Meir "[then] stretched his hands across and slowly started to sprinkle the Ketoret on the burning coals - starting on the western - [the far side]- of the Mizbach and slowly worked his way to the east" [where he was standing] (Tamid 6:3 T.Y. 15). The column of fragrant smoke that emanated from the sizzling glowing coals ascended in a straight line to the Kodesh Hakodashim (Avot D' Rabbi Nathan 31b). Full of emotion and with a wonderful feeling of exaltation, Meir slowly bowed and exited the Heichal. The entire procedure of the Piyus described above raises many questions. How was the agreed upon number chosen? Who chose it? Why did they remove the turban from the head of one of the Kohanim? Was it not a reproach for this man to stand bareheaded on Mikdash grounds? In fact, Tif'eret Yisrael (ibid. Boaz 2) even questions the very congruity of such a problematic system. However elsewhere (Tamid 1:3 T.Y. 37), he does mention that the results of the Mikdash lotteries could not be considered just "coincidental". Only a Kohein deemed worthy in the eyes of Heaven would win the lottery and be privileged to perform that particular act of Divine service. This comment of Tif'eret Yisrael raises a very interesting philosophic question regarding Divine involvement in "random chance." Basing himself on Yoma 26a, Rambam postulates that there was another lottery in the afternoon to enable one more Kohein to have the privilege of offering the afternoon Ketoret. If all the Kohanim in that particular group had already done so, the extra lottery was dispensed with. The Kohein who offered the incense in the morning would offer again in the afternoon (Hil. Temidin U'mussafin 4:8). Catriel's book in progress: The Temple of Jerusalem, A Pilgrim’s Perspective; A Guided Tour through the Temple and the Divine Service [The
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