All Eyes on the Kohen Gadol

The Kohen Gadol's Avodah in the Beis Hamikdash on Yom Kippur

During the course of his service on Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol pronounces Hashem’s sacred Name ten times. When the other kohanim and the people crowded in the Temple courtyard hear the Name broadcast from the Kohen Gadol’s mouth, they are filled with awe, and begin trembling and shaking until they can no longer remain standing on their feet. As soon as they hear the first syllable of the Name, they kneel and prostrate themselves on the courtyard floor, and shout praises and blessings of the Creator with all their might.

Try to picture the incredible scene. Thousands of kohanim, levi’im, and yisraelim standing in the courtyard and watching the Kohen Gadol as he presses his hands on his bull’s head. They hear the sound of the holy Shechinah come forth from his mouth. They all react by kneeling and prostrating themselves, utterly overcome with awe. Suddenly, an ear-splitting roar rises from the courtyard floor and the thousands of Jews scream out with intense concentration: Baruch Shem kevod Malchuso l’olam va’ed!

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For many years, Moshe Menachem Levin has been studying the subject of the service performed in the Beis Hamikdash, and he has taken care to research every source and every opinion. These years of toil have produced a Torah masterpiece comprehensively describing the service in the Beis Hamikdash in general and that of the Kohen Gadol in particular — the person with the most exalted position in the most sacred place of all, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year.

The book you are now holding portrays the service of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur with stunning, detailed illustrations. As you read the text and study the images, you will be able to picture yourself standing in the Beis Hamikdash together with thousands of other Jews, carefully watching the Kohen Gadol perform the heart-stirring mitzvos of the day.

May we have that privilege soon, in our days!

An album of illustrations with explanations drawn from Torah sources

By Rav Moshe Menachem Levin