SHEYIBANEH BEIT HAMIKDASH... Yom Kippur is on the Horizon - a Story [3] That afternoon he was "invited" to sit in an emergency meeting with the Jerusalem Hotelier Association. The thought made his heart flutter; his responsibility was Mikdash administration, not hotels! And it was an open secret that every hotel with any pretense of being within walking distance of the Mikdash was heavily overbooked, a very sensitive subject. The expanded Mikdash Home Hospitality Committee had been working around the clock for weeks (Thank G-d for Shabbat!), but somehow the endless lists of Olei Regel requesting home hospitality and Jerusalemites graciously offering it only grew longer. The locals and their guests would be building 250,000 Sukkot on every available "Sukka porch", roof, driveway, and sidewalk in Jerusalem, and in some neighborhoods, they even built them in the streets. The Iriya was already howling! Ha'avoda! S'chach had to be found for all these Sukkot. And what about Arba Minim for this multitude? True this wasn't his direct responsibility, nevertheless, as chief Mikdash administrator, he was directly involved. A couple of weeks before, Pinchas Hamalbish "who was over the (priestly) vestments" had sternly reminded him of the indisputable fact that more Kohanim serving in the Mikdash meant that he needed more Bigdei Kehuna to clothe them. Unlike some of the nonsensical demands that confronted him these days, Pinchas' urgent request could not be put off. The Segan immediately ordered that the workshops producing Bigdei Kehuna be open 24 hours a day and authorized a special budget for this purpose. Within days, a specially appointed task force tracked down just about every thread of white linen in Eretz Yisrael (and a few European countries besides), paid the most extravagant prices, and brought the linen straight to Pinchas. In addition, aside from the regular weavers whose hours had to be radically increased (at triple time), many positively ancient artisans (some retired for decades) "magically" reappeared and swiftly were integrated into the work force. In fact, just about anyone who could weave was put to work. With a vastly augmented staff and a 24 hour day, the production of Bigdei Kehuna ballooned. Back to Earth, the Segan turned to an aide and said, "We must have an accurate updated estimate of how many sacrificial animals, goats, sheep etc. we're going to need for everybody. Do it now! Check with Aspaka ("supply") for an estimate of how many of each animal will be available. And if - as I suspect - there is a shortfall between supply and the anticipated demand, I want to know how exactly they expect to bridge the gap. NO fudging! If we have a shortage of sacrificial animals, the prices will go through the roof!" As the energetic aide sped off, the Segan yelled after him, "Don't forget the birrrrrds!" Meanwhile Achzaka ("maintenance") had just finished transporting the extra supply of fine olive oil needed for Yom Kippur and Sukkot from the Mikdash subterranean storehouses into the Lishkat Hashemanim in the Ezrat Nashim. And as of yesterday, Yochanan's storerooms were just bulging with Solet, fine flour, for Menachot; wine would be brought in after Yom Kippur. Ah, yes. That nasty Hagros ben Levy "who was over the singing" was still badgering him about the musical instruments that the Levitical choir needed. For a brief moment, the Azara became eerily quiet, then someone tapped the Segan on the shoulder. "Did you hear the news? The Sanhedrin has just declared the Kohein Gadol physically incapable of performing the Avoda on Yom Kippur. You're doing it instead!" The Segan's head began to spin. "Ha'avoda! Where is Meir Hakohein when I need him?" No harm intended, but Meir Hakohein simply had been sidetracked. He had been passing through the giant porticoes on Har Habayit and saw a group of attentive young Kohanim from the Avoda 101 course. He had been captivated by their mellifluent lecturer and especially his message. Every article of clothing worn by the Kohein Gadol had deep meaning and helped effect atonement! "R. Inyani ben Sason said, 'Why are the sections [in the Torah] on Korbanot and that of Bigdei Kehuna found in close proximity? To teach you that just as Korbanot effect atonement, so do the Bigdei Kehuna obtain atonement. The Ketonet ("tunic") atones for bloodshed as it is said, 'And they killed a he-goat and dipped the coat (Ketonet) into the blood.' The Michnasyim ('breeches') atoned for lewdness as it is said, 'And you shall make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness.' The Mitznefet, the wound turban, atoned for arrogance. Rav. Chanina said, 'Let something placed high come and atone for the offense of haughtiness.' The Avneit (sash), atoned for impure thoughts of the heart. The Choshen (breastplate) atoned for [violation] of civil laws, as it is said, 'And you shall make a breastplate of judgement.' The Eifod ("apron") atoned for idolatry, as it is said, 'Without Eifod there are Terafim (idols).' The Me'il (robe), atoned for slander. … R. Chanina said, 'Let an article that makes sound obtain atonement for a transgression of sound. (Tasseled pomegranates and gold bells hung from the bottom of the Me'il. The gold bells tintinnabulated when the Kohein Gadol performed Avodot.) The Tzitz (headband) atoned for brazenness. With reference to the Tzitz, it is written, 'And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead.' and about brazenness, it is written, 'Yet you had a harlot's forehead'" (Zevachim 88b). Entranced and in another world, Meir had lost track of time until a penetrating voice abruptly boomed out, "Meir, where HAVE you been? It's official! The Segan is doing the Avoda this Yom Kippur. "Ha'avoda!" cried Meir as he began to run, "I must talk to him! Now!" <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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