SHEYIBANEH BEIT HAMIKDASH...
A series of articles on Beit HaMikdash-related topics by Catriel Sugarman 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.

Preparing the Mikdash for Pesach - A Story
It was already Erev Rosh Chodesh Nisan and preparations for Pesach in the Beit HaMikdash were in full swing. Olei Regel by the hundreds of thousands had already ascended to Yerushalyim. Their numbers increased by the minute as augmented fleets of private cars, buses, trains, and planes (which landed at the new ultra-modern international airport in Atarot) converged on the Holy City. Every hotel in Jerusalem, with any pretense of even being vaguely within walking distance of the Mikdash, was overbooked. The ancient tradition of Yerushalmim of extending home hospitality to the Olei Regel was exploited in full as the members of the "Mikdash Home Hospitality Committee" struggled to match up the ever-increasing number of Olei Regel with Jerusalem families eager to host them. That they did so with surprising efficiency was due to the implementation of the recommendations of a "think tank" made up of Kohanim, computer experts, experts in crowd control and public transportation, members of the Sanhedrin, and representatives of the Jerusalem Hoteliers Association set up by the efficacious Segan ten years before. The crowding was unbelievable, but miracle of miracles, no one complained (Avot 5:5).

As the 15th of Nisan neared, the tension increased. Dizzy because of lack of sleep, all the Roshei Mishmarot and their lieutenants were holed up in their offices on Har Habayit reviewing enormous computerized lists of Kohanim. Several months before, the Segan had initiated a massive Siyur Ketovot, the purpose of which was to ascertain that the Kohanim actually lived where their Mishmeret records said they did, and that they could be easily contacted by telephone or email. The numerous mistakes that the Siyur Ketovot revealed were corrected and entered into the Mishmeret computers. This was urgent because every Mishmeret had to "contribute" thousands of Kohanim to assist in the performance of Avodat HaMikdash during the Shelosh Regalim. The need was even greater on Pesach because so many extra Kohanim were needed to offer the tens of thousands of Korbanot brought by the Olei Regel. All these newly drafted Kohanim had to be sent to hastily expanded "pre-Pesach training camps" to hone their kohanic skills so all these Korbanot Pesach, Chagiga and Simcha could be sacrificed quickly and without mishap. Provisions had to be made for all these additional Kohanim. [The Korban Chagiga was a kind of Shelamim brought during the Shelosh Regalim. The size and number of Chagigot depended on how much meat was required by the Ba'alei Korban and their families. It also depended on how much they could afford. "According to the blessing of the Lord your G-d, which He has given you (D’varim 16:17).

If the Ba'alei Korban required extra meat during the Regalim in addition to the meat of the Chagigot, they had the option of bringing Korbanot Simcha as well.] The famed agility and nimbleness of the Kohanim was really put to the test on Erev Pesach! [Normally when a sacrificial animal was slaughtered, the Kohein who received the blood in a Mizrak - a Mikdash vessel - carried it to the Mizbei'ach for the blood application. On Pesach,when so many Korbanot were slaughtered at one time, this was impractical. Instead, the Kohanim formed lines stretching from the areas of slaughter all over the Azara to the Mizbei'ach, and they would pass the blood-filled vessels from one to the other (Pesachim 4:5). Upon receiving the vessel, the Kohanim who stood closest to the Mizbei'ach would pour the blood on the Yesod, the projection of the base of the Mizbei'ach on the northern and western sides, and the northeast and southwest corners.] "Quarantined" in their training camps, thousands of Kohanim stood in long lines and practiced passing vessels filled with red-colored water from one to the other. As their skill improved, their speed became incredible. They passed the vessels so fast that you could hardly see them. Other Kohanim were put to jogging over the hillsides. They had to get into good shape quickly! It would not do for them to get out of breath while running up the ramp of the Mizbei'ach to throw the Emurim of the Korbanot into the sacrificial fire.

Because of the previous year's fiasco due to overcrowding and disorganization, the Segan had appointed "Mikdash trouble- shooter" Meir HaKohein, to put together a task force to inspect the adequacy of the new "purification centers" which had been set up to service the thousands of Olei Regel who were pouring into the city. Ritually impure Olei Regel had to arrive in Jerusalem at least eight days before Erev Pesach to be able to complete their purification process on time. While many of the Olei Regel had previously purified themselves at home to avoid spending extra time in Jerusalem, most did not. Hundreds of thousands of Olei Regel had to be purified with Mei Nida - spring water mixed with the ashes of the Para Aduma - on the third and seventh day of their arrival in Jerusalem to "cleanse" them of Tum'at Meit ("corpse impurity"). The pressure on the purification centers was tremendous. Day by day, Meir and his team inspected the centers and checked their efficiency. To "process" the vast crowds of impure Olei Regel quickly, strict organization was required and the Mikdash authorities had instituted a new system. When the Olei Regel arrived in Jerusalem, they were briefed on the laws of purity and assigned to a purification center near where they would be staying. Once they settled in, each Oleh Regel would personally visit his purification center and register.

Teams of Leviyim were on hand to answer questions. Once the Oleh Regel registered, he endeavored to eschew anything potentially contaminating. By avoiding contamination for three days, he initiated his purification process. Three days after registering, the Oleh Regel would return to his purification center for the first of his two sprinklings. Leviyim verified that he was entered in their computer. Meir and his staff carefully recorded the time required to sprinkle Mei Nida on each Oleh Regel in each center and reported their findings to the Segandaily. Any recommendations were immediately implemented. The new purification centers were spacious halls strategically located throughout Jerusalem containing a number of "stations". Supervised by sharp-eyed Kohanim, volunteer "purifiers" manned each station. Arrows indicated the route that the Oleh Regel was to follow.Each purifier held in his hand three stems of hyssop and next to him was a large stone barrel of Mei Nida. As each Oleh Regel stepped forward, the purifier dipped the hyssop stems into the Mei Nida and sprinkled him with special intent to purify. Even a single drop sufficed for purification and the water "worked" if it touched his body anywhere except his tongue. The Oleh Regel returned on the seventh day and the purifier repeated the process. Later that day, the Oleh Regel immersed in a Mikveh and became completely pure at stars-out. On the morrow, before he would be admitted into the Mikdash compound, Leviyim stationed at the entrance would verify his ritual purity. Meanwhile, high above the Azara, workmen were whitewashing the Bayit (Midot 3:4). Once again, the Mikdash would appear as a "mountain of snow" beckoning the Olei Regel from afar. Pesach was fast approaching.

Catriel's book in progress: The Temple of Jerusalem, A Pilgrim’s Perspective; A Guided Tour through the Temple and the Divine Service