Jewish Life Digital Edition September 2015 | Page 89

PHOTOGRAPH: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM DURING THE SECOND TEMPLE PERIOD, THERE WAS A PARTICULAR CONCERN REGARDING THE KOHEN GADOL DYING AND THE PERMISSIBILITY OF ENTERING THE HOLY OF HOLIES TO RETRIEVE HIS BODY. AS IT WAS PREFERABLE TO AVOID ENTERING THE SANCTIFIED AREA, THE IDEA OF TYING A ROPE TO THE KOHEN GADOL SEEMS LOGICAL. sponsor a feast upon emerging safely (Yoma 7:4 [70a]). According to the simple reading of the Mishnah (the peshat) (see Meiri, Yoma 7la), it would appear that the celebration was due to the Kohen Gadol’s safe emergence from the Holy of Holies. Rabbi Yisrael Kimchi (Avodat Yisrael, 1737, pp. 213a-214a), however, attributes the feast to the fact that the Kohen Gadol’s Avodah was accepted by God and the Jewish people were forgiven. During the later period of the Second Temple, the renegade Tzedukim (Sadducees) often succeeded in having members of their sect appointed as the Kohen Gadol. According to the Gemara (Yoma 8b-9a; 18a), the majority of the Kohanim Gedolim in the Second Temple period were ignorant and unworthy and bought their way to the position; some did, in fact, die on Yom Kippur. Only twelve Kohanim Gedolim served during the 410 years of the First Temple. In contrast, during the 420 years in which the Second Temple stood, there were four righteous Kohanim Gedolim, and more than 300 others who did not even serve a full Wishing all our valued customers and friends a Shana Tova and well over the fast! Thank you for all your support over the past year Tel: [phone] • 5 Long Avenue, Glenhazel E-mail:[email protected] year. It should be noted that although the Gemara says they did not serve an entire year, it does not specifically state that they died on Yom Kippur; while some definitely died then, others may have died under different circumstances or simply lost the position to a higher bidder. If a Kohen Gadol died while in the Kodesh Hakodashim, his body had to be removed. Despite the usual restrictions upon entering various areas within the Beit Hamikdash, when a need arose, such as to remove tumah (an impurity), entry was permitted. The Tosefta (Kelim 1:11; cited in Eruvin 105a) explains that “all may enter [usually off-limit areas] to build or repair and to remove tumah. It is preferable that a Kohen enter, but if no Kohen is available, a Levite enters. [1] …” Although not explicit in the Tosefta, this leniency extended to the Kodesh Hakodashim (see Middot 4:5 [2] and Rambam [Beit Habechirah 7:23]). Chazal elaborate on these rules in their Take a closer look... Auditing Accounting tAx ServiceS David Grawitzky 011 887 8593 /