"Meir, You got a Tzav from your Mishmeret!" - A Story Entering her building, Yehudit passed her mailbox and saw a white envelope jammed inside. Seeing the gold seal, she nodded her head and smiled. Her husband Meir, a venerable Kohein, had just received a Tzav (a call-up order) from his Mishmeret informing him that he was to serve in the "Mishmeret HaKehunah" for two weeks! Mikdash Milu'im! Yehudit knew that all Kohanim were divided into twenty-four Mishmarot ("companies of priests"), that representatives of every Mishmeret served in the Mikdash for a week at a time, and that the Mishmarot were broken into smaller family groups called Batei Av. The Kohanim of the Mishmeret would spend the first of their two weeks "refreshing" their Kohanic skills in a restricted area near Har HaBayit. Having honed their skills, the Kohanim of the Mishmeret would serve in the Mikdash during the second week. Meir had described the routine to her many times. He had been receiving similar Tzavim around this time of year and before the Shelosh Regalim for decades, so the envelope bearing the gold seal of the Mishmeret did not come as a surprise. Meir, and the other Kohanim of his Mishmeret, arrived in Jerusalem more or less at the designated time and immediately reported to the restricted area, where, under the guidance of Mikdash experts, they would spend a week "refreshing their priestly proficiencies". As Kohanim kept arriving, the Mishmeret authorities efficiently(?) lined them up; made sure they signed in, divided them into groups, and sent them off to the infirmary for physical examinations. Since the Torah forbade Kohanim who had certain specific bodily defects to perform Avoda, Mikdash doctors under the supervision of Chief Physician, Dr. Ben Achiya (Shekalim 5:1), carefully examined them to ascertain their fitness to serve. Sometimes Dr. Ben Achiya reluctantly had to send disappointed Kohanim home. Having concluded his physical, Meir, together with the rest of "his brethren the kohanim", began the process of purification by first showering and then immersing in a Mikve. When the Kohanim immersed, they had to be completely clean, and entirely free from any substances that might prevent the water from reaching all parts of their bodies. Such interpositions invalided the immersion and the impurity would remain. The setting sun signaled their purification from most forms of ritual impurity. On the third and seventh day, Mikdash appointees would sprinkle them with Mei Nida, spring water mixed with the ashes of the Para Aduma. Then they would immerse again and thereby be purified of Tum'at Meit (corpse-impurity), the most virulent form of impurity. They would eat and sleep on the premises. Since it is forbidden to wear authentic Bigdei Kehuna (priestly garments) outside the Mikdash, they would be issued similar looking "work-clothes". The Milu'imnikim lined up to collect their Tzi'ud (equipment). As the line inched forward ever so slowly, Meir saw a window beckoning in the distance. Hours later (it seemed), Meir reached the window and a Levi handed him a bulky packet that consisted of two pairs of four "Kohanic practice work-clothes" wrapped in two grey wool blankets. Meir knew what to expect and he was not wrong. One set was much too big and the other set was much too small. Meir knew that giving them back simply was not an option. "Tistadru Beineichem" the Levi yelled out ("Manage among youselves." i.e., trade with each other so that everyone has clothes that fit). Miraculously by shrewd horse-trading, Meir did acquire two sets of work-clothes that more or less fit. Suitably appareled, everyone was shown his quarters, i.e. a marked off place on the floor. "Don't complain! Next week, when you'll be in the Mikdash, you'll be sleeping on the floor in the Beit HaMokeid! So get used to it!" Meir knew the routine. Besides, smart Kohanim brought air mattresses! Meir, a "Zariz old-timer" thoroughly familiar with the Avodot of the Mikdash, was quickly co-opted by the instructors as an assistant and began reviewing with some of the younger Kohanim what they had learned. In groups, barefoot, and under the watchful eyes of instructors, they began their week's intensive study. They practiced how correctly to slaughter animals according to Halacha. (Since the animals were slaughtered "only for practice" the meat was distributed to the poor by "Mikdash Relief".) They were reminded which blood applications applied to which Korbanot. "Remember, before you do anything in the Azara, you wash your hands and feet at the Kiyor!" "Don't forget! Only a Kohein can receive the blood from the neck of the slaughtered animal." "All Avodot are done with the RIGHT hand!" "When you sacrifice an Olah, after you receive the blood, you begin by tossing the blood at the northeast corner of the Mizbei'ach." "You there! The blood has to spatter on the north AND east side of the corner! Do it again." "The receptacle for the Nisuch HaYayin (wine libation) is in the southwest corner of the altar." One day when assistant instructor Meir was showing a group of Kohanim how to apply blood on the "horns" of the altar for a Chatat, the heavens opened up and everybody got soaking wet. "Don't stop!" he cried, "The Avoda is not called because of rain! Be thankful it's not snowing!" A more fortunate group of Kohanim, going through their paces in a roofed area remained dry. Kli Shareit (serving vessel) in hand, they were practicing "taking the Kemitza (the "handful of flour")" for the Mincha (meal offering). They practiced putting their right hand into the flour, closing the three middle fingers thereby enveloping some of it, and lifting it up. Meir, his all around expertise appreciated, was enjoying himself a lot! He couldn't wait to enter the Azara! D'rashot given by the greatest Sages were interspersed with the practical work. The Sages stressed repeatedly the importance of the Avoda and that the Kohanim, by performing the Avoda correctly in the Beit HaMikdash, were bringing Kapara to Am Yisrael! After all, was not the Avoda one of the three pillars upon which the world stood (Avot 1:2)? One evening, the Segan, (deputy Kohein Gadol) spoke to them about various aspects of the Avoda. He particularly emphasized the great importance of Kavana - special intent. A Kohein who offered a Korban without proper intent invalidated it. Moreover, there were quizzes daily. "On what does the Shocheit have to concentrate when he slaughters the sacrificial animal?" "What does the Kohein have to think about when he is offering the Korban?" "What happens when a Kohein slaughtered a sacrificial animal, thinking it was an Olah, when really it had been designated as a Chatat?" "How was the Menorah cleaned? How did they light it?" "Briefly describe the Ketoret and how was it offered?" "How was it decided which Kohein performed which Avoda?" On the last day of their week long refresher course, the instructors tested them on their practical skills, graded them, and then determined who could be group leaders. Of course, Meir qualified! After the exam (it was the seventh day), the Kohanim lined up and Mikdash appointees sprinkled them with Mei Nida for the second time. They immersed and when the sun set, their purification was complete. Tomorrow, Shabbat, they would enter the Azara. -to be continued- 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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