After the Kohen Godol completed the laining and his Brochos, everyone brought a Sefer Torah from home to the Beis Hamikdosh and lained from it.
What is the mekor for this? Why did they need to do this? What did they lein? Why weren't they yotzei with the laining of the Kohen Godol? Especially Yom Kippur where the whole Avoda was done by one man - the Kohne Godol.
Also seems strange that we are encouraging everyone to show off their own sifrei Torah. Aren't we worried about gaava and making other people feel bad? We dont bring our esrogim to Shule to show how beautifully we have been mekayem the mitzva. Even if they are showing the great hiddur mitzva, but what does this have to do with the avoda of the Kohen Godol on Yom Kippur and at this point?
Yisroel Alter Pacanowski, Australia
R' Yisroel Alter, you have asked several fine questions and I will try to answer them one by one:
1) What is the mekor for this?
a. The Pasuk of "Zeh Keili v'Anveihu". Rabeinu Yona says in Pirkeu Avos, (2,1) Gam Tzarich l'Hisga'os b'Mitzvas Lulav Naeh. (brought in Seifer "Eizhu Mekoman")
2) Why did they need to do this?
a. As above, it is a Mitzva
b. Some say that it is a Kavod for the Torah that people went to such ends to acquire a beautiful Seifer Torah
c. According to the Maharsho in Yuma 70a the Sifrei Tora are brought so that everyone can see the text and be sure that the Cohane gadol is not saying by heart.
3) Why weren't they Yotzei with the laining of the Kohen Godol?
a. This Kriah was the personal obligation of the CG, and they were not obligated to be Yotzei the Kriah (Gvuras Ari Yuma 68c)
4) We dont bring our esrogim to Shule to show how beautifully we have been mekayem the mitzva.
a. If we would there would be nothing wrong with that and it may even be a Mitzva to encourage others to see to it that they purchase beautiful iyems for Mitzvos. See T'shuvos v'Hanhagos, Orach Chaim, Vol.1, Sec.389
5) Aren't we worried about gaava and making other people feel bad?
a. As with everything in life, a person can do an act, even a Mitzvah d'Oraisah, with the wrong intentions. If a person intends to put others down, his "Mitzva" becomes a "Mitzva Habo b'Aveira". Apparently the holy Jewish people of that generation in the holiest place on Earth, on the holiest day of the year were ble to have the right intentions, and they were not "showing off" but rather givig Kavod to the Torah. I assume (but do not have a proof) that someone who knew he could not bring his Sefer Tora without the right Kavanos was better off leaving it at home.
6) what does this have to do with the avoda of the Kohen Godol on Yom Kippur and at this point?
a. As stated above, since the point was to reference the Kriah (and to dispel any thoughts that thew CG was not reading inside) this was the time and place for such a minhag.
b. Perhaps I could add - Davka becaue of your concerns expressed in Question #5 above, they chose Yom Kippur because then all involved are Tzadikim Gemurim. But this is my personal speculation, I have no source.
Shimon Brodie