Dear Rabbi Kornfeld!
I'm trying to better understand pirush of Rashi about loading of Krashim on Agalot.Each time I draw a picture of loading (as explained by Rashi) it happens that beams should be passed through the animals that were in front of Agala. More over most popular explanation about transportaion of beams by two agalot side by side of each other seems to contradict the way there were loaded ( as explained by Rashi)I'd like to ask you the same favor I would ask Rashi. Please draw me a picture of loading of beams and their transportaion ( Plz dont forget 2 bulls in front of each agala) thank you very much.
Boruch Yuabov, NY, USA
Two wagons were stationed next to each other, and in front of them was another pair of wagons. The Levi'im would pass the pillars (Kerashim) of the Mishkan to the Levi'im who were standing in the first pair of wagons (closest to the loading zone of the Kerashim), and those Levi'im would take the pillars and pass them on to the Levi'im standing in the second pair of wagons.
There is no reason why the Kerashim could not have been passed over the heads of the animals. The Levi'im were tall enough to do so, despite the fact that the wagons had no floors.
Kol Tuv,
Yaakov Montrose
Another possibility is that the animals were tied to the wagons only after the Kerashim were loaded on the wagons.
Y. Shaw
Is it clear that each wagon had its own set of animals pulling it? Perhaps the two wagons were joined (much like a trailer is attached to a car) and only one set of animals was needed for each two wagons.
The Pasuk says there were two cows for each wagon (Bamidbar 4:8)
M Kornfeld
Thank you very much for timely and multifaceted response.
I have to admit though that none of the answers appeared adequate to me. Moreover, Chazal give us the scheme of transportation of krashim (Midrash) there krashim are positioned on two side by side agalot something that is almost impossible according to the opinion expressed by Rashi. Opinion of Chazal in Medrash is shared be Rambam in pirush hamishnayot and Chidushey haRan as well as Tosafot there.
Using their approach everything becomes flawless once agalot are positioned in two pairs in front of Mishkan with front/back orientation perpendicular to Orech reshut harabim, then loading of krashim on agalot will be done from side to side of adjacent agalot along the orech reshut harabim. This approach eliminates unnecessary skillfulness in passing of krashim over the animals or having leviim standing on agalot with their 2.5 meter height or thinking how to lead the animal that is now covered with heavy beams.
Boris G. Yuabov, NY, USA