More Discussions for this daf
1. "Permission" to speak out loud during Shema 2. The Kohen Gadol's status when he enters the Kodesh Kadoshim 3. The Nose of the Tzeduki
4. Mudar Hana'ah from a Kohen 5. Rashi DH Ela she'Hayu Chotim 6. Sichas Chulin
7. Yakirei Yerushalayim Up All Night 8. שעת חפינה
DAF DISCUSSIONS - YOMA 19

Yaakov Yehosua Fischer asked:

Regarding the maseh with the Tzedukie, RAshi says that the reasn why the worms came from the nose is bacause the first limb to enter the Bais Kodeh Hakadashim is the Nose and he bringhs a Raayah, from the HAnichnas Lbais Hemenugah, if his nose is outside (Entering BAckwards) then he remains Tahor. What I cant Undertstand is why isnt the Leg the first limb in? Even the Raayah That Rashi Brings isnt so shtark because walking backwards indeed the last in would be the nose because you throw your legs behind you Ma sheain Kein by walking forward, you throw your leg forward.

The Kollel replies:

REBBI YAKOV EMDEN asks your question, The TOSFOS HA'ROSH and TOSFOS YESHANIM are also bothered by Rashi's explanation, but for a different reason. They ask that the Kohen Gadol would carry in his hands a fire pan and a spoonful of Ketores. If so, his hands would certainly enter the Kodesh Kadoshim before his nose. Therefore, they give a different explanation for the Gemara. They say that the reason the worms came out of the Tzeduki's nose was because he caused the smell of the Ketores to go out from the wrong place, by putting the Ketores on the coals outside of the Kodesh Kadoshim.

The SI'ACH YITZCHAK, however, defends Rashi's explanation. He explains that although other limbs of the Kohen Gadol may have entered the Kodesh Kadoshim before the nose, the first limb to enter in it entirety was the nose!

Rabbi Kornfeld suggests that perhaps when the Kohen Gadol turned and entered the actual Kodesh Kadoshim after walking between the two curtains (see Mishnah, 52b), he turned his face first, thus placing his nose inside before any other part of his body (in fact, the Mishnah actually says that after walking between the curtains and arriving at the northern wall, he would be "Hofech Panav l'Darom" -- he would turn his face southwards and enter the Kodesh Kadoshim.

D. Schloss