This Week's Article

Terumat HaDeshen Alone

Tamid (1:4) | Yisrael Bankier | 8 hours ago

This week was started masechet Tamid that details the order of the day in the Beit Mikdash until the offering of the korban Tamid in the morning. We learnt that the first task was the Terumat HaDeshen. This involved a kohen ascending the ramp of the mizbeach to remove some of the well burnt coal from the major pyre and then placing it to the side of the ramp.

We learnt that the kohen that was selected for this task was done so by way of a lottery. The Mishnah explains that he would go on his own to perform that task while the other kohanim would wait at the lishchat ha'chavitin until he was finished. This was because nothing else could be done until the terumat ha'deshen was performed. The Mishnah explains that they kohanim would remind him that he was not to touch the shovel until he first washed his hands and feet from the basin. The Tifferet Yisrael explains that the reminder was necessary because he would be going there alone.

The Mishnah continues to stress that no one else went there with him. The Tosfot Yom Tov cites the Mefaresh who explains that that is because no one was allowed between the ulam and mizbeach when it is not the time for avodah. He continues that this also explains why he did not carry a torch with him, for he was going alone, and he needed both hands to perform the task.

The Rashash however asks that we find in Masechet Keilim (1:9) that only kohanim that had a mum or whose hair grew wild were not allowed in that location. That implication is that all other kohanim were allowed in that location.¹

The Chazon Nachum however cites the Raavad who understand that when the Mishnah state that no kohen went along with him, it means it was not necessary for any other kohen to accompany him. The Chazon Nachum understands that according to the Raavad other kohanim would be able to enter that region (as assumed by the Rashash above).

The Raavad adds that this understanding can explain a difficulty presented by the Tosfot (19b, s.v. ve\chaverio). There is debate how the kohanim washed their hands and feet. According to R' Yossi bar R' Yehuda, one hand would be placed on top of the other and one foot on top of the other. Washing in that way required assistance from another kohen. The Tosfot ask that according to this opinion, how did the kohen who performed terumat ha'deshen wash his hands and feet. The Raavad answers in line with his explanation, that, if necessary, another kohen could accompany him to assist him in doing so. According to R' Yossi that would indeed be the case. The point of the Mishnah was that the terumat ha'deshen itself could be performed alone.

One might add the following thought for the Beer Mayim Chaim. The Torah in this week's parasha describes the clothing of the kohan as "mido bud". In one of his explanations, he writes that this alludes to the concept of hitbodedut, extoled by the Ari for its therapeutic effect. The Beer Mayim Chayim adds that being socially dependant, especially on the wrong crowds, can be detrimental.

One might therefore suggest that it is for this reasons that the Mishnah stresses that the kohen who performed the first avodah was alone. No other kohen could see him. The first task of the kohanim, the clothing that they wore, reminded them that whilst indeed they serve the people and are engaged with them, their dependence and actions are only to be towards HaKadosh Barch Hu.

¹ Normally lo be'shaat avodah, means not for the purpose of avodah. One might suggest that in this case, the mefarsh means that one was not allowed in that region at a time when avodah was not allowed to be performed at all, as in this case where the terumah ha'deshen had not yet been performed.

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