Mishnah 1
Hear the Mishnah

1)

(a)What is the area of the Har ha'Bayis?

(b)What is it surrounded by?

(c)Seeing as the Beis-ha'Mikdash is not located in the center, which side is ...

1. ... the largest (if one measures from the wall of the Har ha'Bayis to the wall of the Azarah?

2. ... the smallest?

(d)Which is the second largest side?

(e)What is the significance of the fact that the south side is the largest side?

1)

(a)The area of the Har ha'Bayis is - five hundred square Amos.

(b)It is surrounded by - a wall.

(c)Seeing as the Beis-ha'Mikdash is not located in the center ...

1. ... the largest side (if one measures from the wall of the Har ha'Bayis to the wall of the Azarah is - the south side (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

2. ... the smallest side is - the west side.

(d)The second largest side is - the east side.

(e)The south side is the largest side - because it is the side that is most used (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

Mishnah 2
Hear the Mishnah

2)

(a)In which direction does someone who enters the Beis-ha'Mikdash generally walk, and via which exit does he leave it?

(b)What is the only dual exception (See Meleches Sh'lomoh)?

(c)What does one ask a person whom one finds making his way towards the left?

2)

(a)Someone who enters the Beis-ha'Mikdash generally walks towards the right, and leaves via the exit to the left of the one by which he entered.

(b)The only dual exception (See Meleches Sh'lomoh) is - an Aveil and a Menudeh (someone who is in Cherem).

(c)One asks someone whom one finds making his way towards the left - why he is doing so.

3)

(a)What does one wish a person who replies that he is an Aveil?

(b)If he is a Menudeh then, according to Rebbi Meir, one wishes him that 'the One who dwells in this House should put into the hearts of the people to bring him close. What objection does Rebbi Yossi raise to that?

(c)So what does he maintain that one says to him?

3)

(a)One wish a person who replies that he is an Aveil - that the One who dwells in this house should comfort him.

(b)If he is a Menudeh then, according to Rebbi Meir, one wishes him that 'the One who dwells in this House should put into the hearts of the people to bring him close', to which Rebbi Yossi objects - because it conveys the impression that the people somehow did wrong in rejecting him.

(c)According to him, one therefore wishes him that - 'the One who dwells in this House should put into his heart to listen to his friends and they will then bring him close.

Mishnah 3
Hear the Mishnah

4)

(a)Within the Har ha'Bayis is he Soreg (See Tosfos Yom Tov). What is the 'Soreg'? What is it made of? How high is it?

(b)How many breaches did the Greeks make in the Soreg?

(c)What is a person who passes the location of any of the breaches (even though they have all been repaired) obligated to do?

(d)Why must he do that?

(e)Within the Soreg is the Cheil. How wide is the Cheil?

4)

(a)Within the Har ha'Bayis is the 'Soreg' (See Tosfos Yom Tov) - a wooden latticework fence ten Tefachim high (Ibid.).

(b)The Greeks made - thirteen breaches in the Soreg (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)Whoever passes the location of any of the breaches (even though they have all been repaired) is obligated - to prostrate himself ...

(d)... to thank Hash-m for the defeat of the Greeks

(e)Within the Soreg is the Cheil - an area ten Amos wide (See Tiferes Yisrael note 23).

5)

(a)How does one get from the Cheil to the Ezras Nashim?

(b)How high and how wide is each step?

(c)This is the standard measurement for all the steps in the Beis-ha'Mikdash. What is the sole exception?

(d)The Ulam is also the sole exception as regards the entrances and the gates. The standard height of all the other entrances and gates is twenty Amos. What is the standard width?

(e)What do all the other entrances also have that the Ulam does not?

5)

(a)One gets from the Cheil to the Ezras Nashim - via twelve steps.

(b)Each step is - half an Amah tall and half an Amah wide (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)This is the standard measurement for all the steps in the Beis-ha'Mikdash - except for those of the Ulam (as we will see later).

(d)The Ulam is also the sole exception as regards the entrances and the gates, which are twenty Amos tall - and ten Amos wide.

(e)All the other entrances also have - a door, which the Ulam does not.

6)

(a)All the gates have a wooden lintel ('Shakuf', See Tosfos Yom Tov), except for Sha'ar Tadi. What does Sha'ar Tadi have instead?

(b)Which is the only gate which they did not replace (See Tosfos Yom Tov) with gold?

(c)Some attribute this to the miracle that occurred to them during transportation (See Tiferes Yisrael). What do other attribute it to?

6)

(a)All the gates have a wooden lintel ('Shakuf', See Tosfos Yom Tov), except for Sha'ar Tadi - which has two stone blocks, leaning against each other at an angle.

(b)The only gate which they did not replace (See Tosfos Yom) with gold is -Sha'ar Nikanor.

(c)Some attribute this to the miracle that occurred to them during transportation (See Tiferes Yisrael), others to the fact that - the high-quality copper resembles gold anyway

Mishnah 4
Hear the Mishnah

7)

(a)All the walls of the Beis-ha'Mikdash extend way above the twenty Amos of the doorways except for one. Which one?

(b)The reason for this is based on the Pasuk in Chukas (in connection with the preparation of the Parah Adumah) "ve'Hizah el Nochach P'nei Ohel Mo'ed". What do we learn from there?

(c)The Kohen who sprinkles the blood of the Parah Adumah has to see the entrance of the Heichal. Besides the gateway of the Har ha'Bayis itself, how many other gateways are there (through which he must see), until that of the Heichal?

(d)Bearing in mind that the Beis-ha'Mikdash is built on a mountain, how many Amos higher is the entrance to the Heichal than the foot of the Har ha'Bayis?

(e)How does this explain why the wall of the Har ha'Bayis may not be as high as the other walls?

7)

(a)All the walls of the Beis-ha'Mikdash extend way above the twenty Amos of the doorways except for one - that of the Har ha'Bayis.

(b)The reason for this is based on the Pasuk in Chukas (in connection with the preparation of the Parah Adumah) "ve'Hizah el Nochach P'nei Ohel Mo'ed", from which we learn that - the Kohen who sprinkles the ashes of the Parah Adumah towards the entrance of the Heichal must see it as he does so.

(c)Besides the gateway of the Har ha'Bayis itself, there are - another two gateways (through which he must see), until that of the Heichal, that of the Ezras Nashim and that of the main Azarah (which are all aligned).

(d)Bearing in mind that the Beis-ha'Mikdash is built on a mountain, the entrance to the Heichal is - twenty-two Amos higher than the foot of Har ha'Bayis.

(e)This explains why the wall of the Har ha'Bayis may not be as high as the other walls - because, since he cannot see the entrance of the Heichal via the doorway of the Har ha'Bayis, he must be able to see it via the top of the wall.

Mishnah 5
Hear the Mishnah

8)

(a)The Ezras Nashim is a hundred and thirty-five Amos long, how wide is it?

(b)What is the definition of its ...

1. ... length?

2. ... width?

(c)What does it contain in its four corners?

(d)What is the size of each room?

8)

(a)The Ezras Nashim is a hundred and thirty-five Amos long - and a hundred and thirty-five Amos wide.

(b)Its ...

1. ... length is - from east to west, and its ...

2. ... width - from north to south.

(c)In its four corners, it contains - four rooms (one in each corner) ...

(d)... each room - forty Amos by forty Amos (Tiferes Yisrael [See also Tosfos Yom Tov]).

9)

(a)What is the source of the four rooms in the four corners of the Ezras Nashim?

(b)The Navi, who describes each of the four rooms as "Chatzer be'Miktzo'a Chatzer", concludes "Chatzeros Keturos". What does this mean?

(c)This is similar to the Pasuk in Vayeira (in connection with the destruction of S'dom and Amora) "ve'Hinei Alah Kitor ha'Aretz ke'Kitor ha'Kivshan (like the smoke of a kiln)". What has this to do with the rooms?

(d)What does the Tana say in this connection about the next Beis-ha'Mikdash?

9)

(a)The source of the four rooms in the four corners of the Ezras Nashim is - a Pasuk in Yechezkel.

(b)The Navi, who describes each of the four rooms as "Chatzer be'Miktzo'a Chatzer", concludes "Chatzeros Keturos" - which means 'open courtyards' (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)This is similar to the Pasuk in Vayeira (in connection with the destruction of S'dom and Amora) "ve'Hinei Alah Kitor ha'Aretz ke'Kitor ha'Kivshan (like the smoke of a kiln)" - because, when there is no roof, the smoke rises into the sky and can be seen from the outside.

(d)The Tana says - that this is exactly how it will be in the next Beis-ha'Mikdash.

10)

(a)The south-eastern room is the 'Lishkas ha'Nezirim', where a Nazir who ends his term of Nezirus shaves off his hair. What else does he do there?

(b)What does he then do with his hair?

(c)What is the source for this?

(d)The north-eastern room is the 'Lishkas ha'Eitzim'. Why is it ...

1. ... called by that name?

2. ... necessary to do that?

10)

(a)The south-eastern room is the 'Lishkas ha'Nezirim', where a Nazir who ends his term of Nezirus shaves off his hair - and cooks his Shelamim.

(b)He then throws his hair - into the fire underneath the pot containing his Shelamim ...

(c)... as the Torah writes in Parshas Naso.

(d)The north-eastern room is the 'Lishkas ha'Eitzim' ...

1. ... where the Kohanim who are Ba'alei-Mumin remove all wood (for the Ma'arachah) that contains worms (See Tosfos Yom Tov) ...

2. ... because wood that contains worms is disqualfied from going on the Mizbe'ach

11)

(a)What function does the north-western room, 'the 'Lishkas Metzora'im', serve?

(b)Prior to what ceremony does this Tevilah take place?

(c)What did Rebbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov comment about the south-western room?

(d)What do we extrapolate from the fact that he made this comment?

(e)According to Aba Shaul, the south-western room is called 'Beis-Shemanya' (the oil-room). What function does it serve?

11)

(a)The north-western room, 'the 'Lishkas Metzora'im' is - where a Metzora - Tovels again on the morning of the eighth day (even though he already Toveled the previous night [See Tosfos Yom Tov]) ...

(b)... prior to the ceremony of placing blood from his Korban and oil on his thumbs and big toes (by the Sha'ar Nikanor.

(c)Rebbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov commented that - he could not remember what function the south-western room served ...

(d)... from which we extrapolate Rebbi ben Ya'akov is the S'tam author of Maseches Midos.

(e)According to Aba Shaul, the south-western room is called 'Beis-Shemanya' (the oil-room) - where they keep the wine and oil for the Menachos.

12)

(a)Originally, they built the walls of the Ezras Nashim smooth, on which they later built a 'Ketzotzra' (or a Ketzotztera). What is a 'Ketzotzra'?

(b)Why was this necessary?

(c)When do they build it?

12)

(a)Originally, they built the walls of the Ezras Nashim smooth, on which they later built a 'Ketzotzra' (or a 'Ketzotztera') - a balcony (literally a ledge) ...

(b)... for the women, so they should not mix with the men.

(c)They build it each year before the ceremony of the Simchas Beis-ha'Sho'evah on Succos.

13)

(a)How many steps (corresponding to the Shir ha'Ma'alos in Tehilim) lead from the Ezras Nashim to the Ezras Yisrael?

(b)What additional function do these steps serve?

(c)Unlike all the other steps in the Beis-ha'Mikdash, these steps are not Terutos. What does T'rutos mean?

(d)How are they, in fact, shaped?

(e)To what does the Tana compare it?

13)

(a)Fifteen steps (corresponding to the Shir ha'Ma'alos in Tehilim) lead from the Ezras Nashim to the Ezras Yisrael ...

(b)... on which the Levi'im stand during the Simchas Beis ha'Sho'evah and sing the Shir ha'Ma'alos (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)Unlike all the other steps in the Beis-ha'Mikdash, these steps are not Terutos - straight (with corners).

(d)In fact, they are circular-shaped ...

(e)... 'like half a circular granary'.

Mishnah 6
Hear the Mishnah

14)

(a)Into where do the rooms underneath the Azarah open?

(b)What do the Levi'im store there?

(c)Besides harps and lyres (Neivel) and a variety of unspecified instruments, which other specific instrument do they store there?

14)

(a)The rooms underneath the Azarah open into - the Ezras Nashim.

(b)The Levi'im store - their instruments there.

(c)Besides harps and lyres (Neivel) and a variety of unspecified instruments, they also store there - a pair of cymbals.

15)

(a)The length of the Ezras Yisrael (from north to south) is a hundred and thirty-five Amos (like the Ezras Nashim). What is its width?

(b)What are the equivalent measurements of the Ezras Kohanim?

(c)How do they mark the division between the two Azaros, according to the Tana Kama?

15)

(a)The length of the Ezras Yisrael (from north to south) is a hundred and thirty-five Amos (like the Ezras Nashim) - and its width - eleven Amos.

(b)The equivalent measurements of the Ezras Kohanim are - exactly the same.

(c)According to the Tana Kama, they mark the division between the two Azaros - with beams that protrude from the opposite walls (See Tiferes Yisrael).

16)

(a)According to Rebbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov (See Tiferes Yisrael), the division consists of a step that is one Amah tall (and that runs along the entire length of the Ezras Yisrael). What did they build on top of it?

(b)How does one reach the top of the platform? How tall is each step

(c)By how many Amos does the height of the Ezras Kohanim therefore exceed that of the Ezras Yisrael, according to Rebbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov?

16)

(a)According to Rebbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov (See Tiferes Yisrael), the division consists of a step that is one Amah tall (and that runs along the entire length of the Ezras Yisrael), on top of which they built - a platform.

(b)One reaches the top of the platform - by climbing up the three steps that comprise the platform), each one half an Amah tall.

(c)It transpires that, according to Rebbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov, the height of the Ezras Kohanim exceeds that of the Ezras Yisrael - by two and a half Amos.

17)

(a)The Mishnah gives the length of the 'entire Azarah' as a hundred and eighty-Amos (from east to west). What does the 'entire length' incorporate?

(b)What is the width?

(c)To what does Aba Yossi ben Chanan attribute the thirteen prostrations that someone who walks round the Azarah has to make?

(d)To what do those who maintain that the Azarah has only seven gates (See Perek 1, Mishnah 4) attribute them?

17)

(a)The Mishnah gives the length of the 'entire Azarah' - from the Sha'ar Nikanor, up until the wall that behind the Kodesh Kodshim (the Kosel ha'Ma'aravi) as a hundred and eighty-Amos (from east to west).

(b)The width is - a hundred and thirty-five Amos.

(c)Aba Yossi ben Chanan attributes the thirteen prostrations that someone who walks round the Azarah has to make - to the thirteen gates via which one enters the Azarah.

(d)Those who maintain that the Azarah has only seven gates (See Perek 1, Mishnah 4) attribute them to - the thirteen breaches in the Soreg (that we discussed earlier in the Perek).

18)

(a)The four gates listed by the Tana in the south are from east to west 'Sha'ar ha ... Elyon, Delek, Bechoros & Mayim'. Which is the gate that was not discussed in the first Perek?

(b)Why is the first gate called 'Sha'ar ha'Elyon (See Tiferes Yisrael)?

(c)According to Rebbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov, the Sha'ar ha'Mayim is so-called because the water from the Kodesh Kodshim exited there (as we explained in the first Perek). From where will it exit in the third Beis-ha'Mikdash (See Hagahos ha'Gra)?

(d)What does the Tana Kama say?

18)

(a)The four gates listed by the Tana in the south are from east to west 'Sha'ar ha ... Elyon, Delek, Bechoros & Mayim'. The gate that was not discussed in the first Perek is - the Sha'ar ha'Korban.

(b)The first gate is called 'Sha'ar ha'Elyon - because it is on higher ground than the others (See Tiferes Yisrael & Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)According to Rebbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov, the Sha'ar ha'Mayim is so-called because the water from the Kodesh Kodshim exited there (as we explained in the first Perek). In the third Beis-ha'Mikdash, it will exit from - underneath the threshold of the Heichal.

(d)The Tana Kama maintains that it is called the 'Sha'ar ha'Mayim' - because it is through it that they bring the jar of water for Nisuch ha'Mayim on Succos.

19)

(a)The four corresponding gates in the north are 'Sha'ar Yechonyah, ha'Korban (the only gate mentioned in the first Perek), ha'Nashim & ha'Shir'. Why is the first gate called 'Sha'ar Yechonyah?

(b)Why is ...

1. ... the third gate called 'Sha'ar ha'Nashim' (See Tosfos Yom Tov)?

2. ... the fourth gate called 'Sha'ar ha'Shir' (See Tosfos Yom Tov)?

(c)What is the name of the eastern gate and what are the two Pishp'shin?

(d)How many gates are there in the west?

(e)What are they called?

19)

(a)The four corresponding gates in the north are 'Sha'ar Yechonyah, ha'Korban (the only gate mentioned in the first Perek), ha'Nashim & ha'Shir'. The first gate is called 'Sha'ar Yechonyah - because it is through it that Yechonyah ha'Melech went into Galus (See also Tiferes Yisrael).

(b)The ...

1. ... third gate is called 'Sha'ar ha'Nashim' - because it is through it that the women leave the Azarah (See Tosfos Yom Tov & Tiferes Yisrael).

2. ... fourth gate is called 'Sha'ar ha'Shir' - because through it the Levi'im bring their instruments via the tunnels under the Ezras Nashim into the Azarah (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)The name of the eastern gate is - Sha'ar Nikanor, and the two Pishp'shin - are the two small entrances that flank it (all of which we discussed in the first Perek).

(d)There are - two gates in the west (See Tosfos Yom Tov) ...

(e)... whose names are unknown.

D.A.F. TALMUD RESOURCES
FOR MASECHES MIDOS