The Kohanim in the Beit HaMikdash

Found 7 Search results

1. Renewal of Relations

   Haftarot: Emor

   Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein

   The haftara in Ezekiel discusses halakhic details of the work of the kohanim in the Temple. Some of the halakhot that relate to the High Priest in the Torah are described by Ezekiel as relating to all priests. This might be perceived as a consolation for the nation's fear that their relationship with God will never return to the way it used to be. Ezekiel's description indicates that the kedusha in the third Temple will be greater than before, by describing the function of regular priests in similar terms to the High Priest.

2. A Deeper Look At The Priestly Role

   Rabbi David Block |

   Why does the Torah use the culminating moment for the priests to go through a long and bizarre induction ceremony? And what do its parallels to a certain other section of text teach us about the deeper role of the priests of the Temple? Want to see more videos like this? Check out https://www.alephbeta.org/

3. The Vision of the Future Temple

   Part 2 - More Concealment than Revelation

   Dr. Tova Ganzel

   The description of the Temple and the city, has some concrete and precise elements, but at the very same time, lacks some very central details.  

   According to Yehezkel's prophecy, the changes in this Temple include not only the outer structure of the edifice, but also fundamental difference in who enters it. This change relates both to the measure of access afforded the people, but also the division of roles among the various leaders of the nation, and the degree to which they are connected to the Temple.

   The impression arising from Yehezkel’s prophecy is that the Temple is not a spiritual center for the entire nation. The Temple serves the kohanim and leviim, who perform their service within it as representatives of the people, while the only roles that are given to the people are the auxiliary functions and appearances: funding of the sacrifices, prostration, and a partial view of the Divine service.

4. Malakhi’s Opening Chapter

   Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky

   Malakhi structures his prophecy as an ongoing series of dialogues between God and the Jewish People, forming the backbone of the book and as well as its central motif.

   Malakhi consistently sees the world through the lenses of the intimate relationship between God and the Jewish People. In this sense, he is fittingly named “my messenger,” emphasizing the immediacy of the connection between God and His people.

   Malakhi places great emphasis on the centrality of family relations to our responsibilities not only toward God, but also our fellow Jews and humanity.

   Although the Second Temple has not yet attained the honor described in Haggai’s prophecy, Malakhi chastises the priests for relating dishonorably to the sacrificial service.  Apparently, given the Temple’s relatively sorry state, the priests likely saw no reason to act reverentially toward the service. Moreover, although the exact date of Malakhi’s prophecy is unknown, the sense is that the Temple had already been functioning for some time. At this point, the Temple was likely no longer a novelty, and quite possibly was taken for granted by the priests.

   Today, many younger people take the existence of Israel for granted; they did not see the founding of the State or the miraculous victories in wars, such as in 1967. The challenge of the current generation is not to fall into the trap that ensnared the priests – to remain passionately committed to Jerusalem even when its restoration is no longer freshly imprinted upon our hearts.

5. Harsher Criticism

   Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky

   Echoing the covenant of peace forged with Pinhas, and especially Moshe’s blessings before his death, in this passage Malakhi castigates the priests for their shortcomings not in regard to their role in the sacrificial service, but as Torah teachers. In contrast to a previous era, in which the Levites observed the covenant and feared the Almighty, they have now “turned out of the way of that course.”

   The emphasis on the priests’ lapses as halakhic decisors, although to a degree rooted in earlier Biblical passages, sounds strikingly post-prophetic. All this betokens a clear transition in leadership from priest as primarily focused on the Temple service to one also centered on Torah education.

   In light of the centrality of the familial metaphor, it may be that the dialogue between God and the nation is the perfect organizing principle. Constructed as a series of tense exchanges between quarrelling but loving spouses, the discussion motif offers a realistic snapshot of a marital relationship and is therefore particularly apt.

6. Parshat Korach Part 5: The Obligation and Rights of the Kohanim

   Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 24 minutes

   This podcast deals with the various rights and obligations that govern the Kohanim and Leviim, and discusses the gifts of Teruma that are given to the Kohanim.  

   Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

7. Lift Your Hands in Holiness

   Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky