DAF DISCUSSIONS - MENACHOS 97

H Koppel asked:

In discussing the size of the Mizba'ach the gemorrah uses between five and six tefochim for an amah.

The gemorrah does not specify why it does not use the same size or when it is using the different sizes, these have to be worked out oneself. This is a little strange particularly as there is no specific height specified for the Mizba'ach. Therefore it wouldn't matter which size amah was used.

H Koppel, England

The Kollel replies:

1. The Gemara (end 97a) says that according to Rebbi Meir, the Amah used was always 6 Tefachim, with the exception of the inner (golden) Mizbe'ach, and the corners (Keranos), base, and "Sovev" (surrounding ramp) of the outer Mizbe'ach. Those were measured with an Amah of 5 Tefachim. Rebbi Yehudah maintains that the parts of the actual building of the Beis ha'Mikdash (such as the walls of the Beis ha'Mikdash, and the outer Mizbe'ach, which was fixed to the ground and thus considered part of the building) were measured with an Amah of 6 Tefachim, while all of the vessels (such as the Aron, Shulchan, and golden Mizbe'ach) were measured with an Amah of 5 Tefachim.

2. The Gemara explains how Rebbi Meir and Rebbi Yehudah derive their respective opinions from the verse in Yechezkel (43:13).

3. The Gemara (97b) says that the height of the Mizbe'ach was 10 Amos.

Kol Tuv,

Dovid Bloom