20
votes
Accepted
Does the Holy Ark weigh 4 tons?
I go through the math here. Admittedly I use a lot of very rough estimation. I caught some mistakes in my math in the video which I have edited here, as well as adding a section below regarding the ...
- 33.8k
10
votes
Accepted
Were there two Arks constructed, one by Bezaleel and one by Moshe?
Rashi in his commentary to Devarim 10:1 writes that there were indeed two; the one made by Moshe was the one that the Bnei Yisrael carried with them when they went into battle.
At that time: At the ...
- 6,414
10
votes
Accepted
Did anyone other than Rashi think the Ark could "bear itself" (Joshua 4:18)?
Rashi's source is a Gemara in Sotah (35a):
נמצא ארון ונושאיו וכהנים מצד אחד וישראל מצד אחד נשא ארון את נושאיו ועבר שנאמר (יהושע ד, יא) ויהי כאשר תם כל העם לעבור ויעבור ארון ה' והכהנים לפני העם
...
- 40.1k
10
votes
Accepted
What was in the Ark of the Covenant?
What was in the Ark?
The Talmud teaches us (Shekalim 16a and Bava Basra 14a) that the Ark contained both sets of Tablets (the broken ones and the 2nd set) as well as the Torah Scroll the Moses wrote.
...
- 42.4k
6
votes
Why was there no ark in the second temple?
Rashash (Yoma 53, in part, in my own translation):
It's difficult to understand why they didn't make another aron in the second temple. If it was because it's written "and put the testimony in ...
- 73.6k
6
votes
Are Cherubim on top of the ark exception or contradiction?
It's a clear exception. I heard Rabbi Benjamin Blech suggest that Judaism values education so highly that God made an exception to allow that imagery -- note that the Cherubim had the faces of a young ...
- 129k
5
votes
Does one have to stand when the Ark is open?
It is a demonstration of honour to stand but not a duty. See here
The original rule is this (SA YD 282, 2):
הרואה ספר תורה שהוא מהלך חייב לעמוד לפניו ויהיו הכל עומדים עד שיעמוד זה שמוליכו ויגיענו ...
- 22.5k
5
votes
How to walk out of the synagogue?
See O.C. 132:2 Ba'er Hetev #9. He says that Mahari"l bowed down 3 times when he left his place, and faced the ark while doing that. He repeated this when he was at the entrance of the shul. He then ...
- 69.6k
4
votes
Accepted
Why were there only two tablets in the ark?
The meforshim explain that it was put "in front of" the ark, not inside the ark. Thus, it was in a separate container. As shown in Yirmiyahu 2:31, it was brought out then to show them. Rav Hirsch says ...
- 42.7k
4
votes
History of decorated Paroches - curtain on the Aron Kodesh
There is a long, long history of decorated curtains/parochets in front of arons/arks.
The first one I found in Tanach was in the original Mishkan, according to Shemot/Exodus 26:31 - 33, dividing the ...
- 2,162
4
votes
Accepted
Hilchos Pesicha/Pesichas HaAron
Open the ark after kaddish but wait for the chazzan to walk towards you before you take out the Torah. When he does, take out the Torah and hand it to him. He will recite the pesukim(according to ...
- 849
4
votes
Did Cherubim have actual faces?
Bava Basra 99a states clearly that they were in the form of children:
תניא אונקלוס הגר אמר כרובים (דברי הימים ב ג, י) מעשה צעצועים הן
It was taught in a Braisa: Onkelos the convert said, the ...
- 33.8k
4
votes
The procedure of checking new scrolls against the Torah scroll in the Ark
Rambam states this in Hilchot Tefillin and Mezuzot 7:2 regarding the scrolls that a King writes:
"...This [King's] copy is corrected by comparison with a scroll kept in the temple court and ...
- 23.6k
3
votes
Why were there two Cherubim on the Ark
There are those who say that the reason for the two is to teach the connection between Hashem and the Bnai Yisrael. When the Bnai Yisrael behaved, they would turn toward each other and embrace. When ...
- 42.7k
3
votes
Are Cherubim on top of the ark exception or contradiction?
It is known that the heathen in those days built temples to stars, and set up in those temples the image which they agreed upon to worship; because it was in some relation to a certain star or to a ...
- 1,487
3
votes
Praying directly before an aron
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed says it is permitted.
It is permissible to decorate the parochet (curtain) and the aron
kodesh in the accepted manner, for people are accustomed to the
decorations on them ...
- 138k
3
votes
Is there any halachic problem with an ark having a "lazy susan" for the Sifrei Torah?
In Yoreh De'ah Siman 282 there is nothing in the halachos of respecting a sefer Torah which dictates what direction the sefer Torah should face when it is in the Aron, as long as it isn't placed on ...
- 57.9k
3
votes
Accepted
Rule for opening the ark without a minyan
Since I and two rabbanim I asked didn't find classical sources addressing this case, I think we have to break down your question into three
Are you forbidden from opening the ark?
Do you have to open ...
- 44.6k
3
votes
Why, according to Rashi, do the words Aron Ha-Elokim refer to the Urim Ve-Tumim, and not the Aron Ha-Kodesh in I Shmuel 14:18?
This comment of Rashi is also the view expressed by Radak and Ralbag.
It seems to be related to the idea of inquiring of it what course of action they should take. This is like Sforno explains to ...
- 13.4k
3
votes
Cherubim gender differences
Seems that there are various opinions as to what they looked like, from birds to human-like to birds with human faces.
It would seem that if they were of both genders it would be apparent in their ...
- 42.4k
3
votes
Did the Tsalot HaAron in Shemot 25:14 refer to the sidewalls (left & right of Keruvim)?
If the Sons of Qehat & HaKohanim were approaching you with HaAron, you would see a Keruv's back bowing to דְבַר־יְ֠הֹוָה the Word of YHVH. - Correct?
No, the aron was carried covered with cloth. ...
- 73.6k
2
votes
Accepted
How was Klall Yisrael able to have the miracle of being gathered between the two poles of the Aaron HaKodesh if they weren't able to be near it?
Perhaps the same way 600,000 could fit between the poles, an extra 2,000 amoth on all sides could fit in as well.
- 17.5k
2
votes
Why were there only two tablets in the ark?
Radak in his commentary to this verse says that it proves that there was no Torah scroll or broken tablets in the Ark:
זה ראייה כי לא היו בארון לא שברי לוחות ולא ס״ת וארון שבו ס״ת נראה כי נתנוהו ...
- 48.7k
2
votes
Why was there no ark in the second temple?
Since the Aron was supposed to contain the luchos (whether one or both), a new one could not be made without them. Since the luchos were in the original aron, they were not available for the second ...
- 42.7k
2
votes
Does one have to stand when the Ark is open?
HaRav Dor Lior states (my translation):
אומנם צריך לכבד את ארון הקודש אך מכיוון שמצד עיקר הדין מותר לשבת בזמן שארון הקודש פתוח, לכן, מי שקשה לו יכול לשבת.
While one needs to honor the Aron Qodesh, ...
- 7,393
2
votes
Cherubim & Ark of Cov. description paralleled to (or inspired by) Egyptians?
Judaism fundamentaly differs from Egyptian theological system. Only thing similar here are wings and fact there is two of them.
Cherubim and their representation is not contrary to commandments, it ...
- 319
2
votes
Why were there two Cherubim on the Ark
I gave this answer previously on a related thread. I think it belongs here too.
It is known that the heathen in those days built temples to stars, and set up in those temples the image which they ...
- 1,487
2
votes
Parshas Terumah vs. Vayakhel - instruction vs action
I've noticed that a general pattern to many of the differences between Terumah and Vayakhel is that Terumah has a more precise account of the relationship between different parts or descriptions of ...
- 9,037
2
votes
Parshas Terumah vs. Vayakhel - instruction vs action
I would suggest the following Chiddush, but I welcome feedback as usual.
The prohibition of removing the Badim immediately follows in Shemos 25, but not in Shemos 37. I would like to suggest that ...
- 20.8k
2
votes
Which direction to open the Paroches on the Aron Kodesh
Rabi Ovadia Yosef ZATSAL.
(so his son said - Rabi Avraham Yosef so i heard him and here is a link to his answer)
And Rabi Meir Mazuz SHLITa
(so i heard him and here is a link answered in his ...
- 167
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