The pesach is slaughtered in three groups, one after another. The first enters, the Azara fills and its doors are locked; when it has finished offering, they are opened again, it goes out and the second enters, then the third. Rabbi Yitzchak: three groups of thirty men each — kahal, edah, Israel.
Dimensions
- the second group
- each with his lamb
Sources
- Pesachim 5:7“יָצְתָה כַת רִאשׁוֹנָה וְנִכְנְסָה כַת שְׁנִיָּה. יָצְתָה שְׁנִיָּה, נִכְנְסָה שְׁלִישִׁית”
- Rambam, Hilchot Korban Pesach 1:15“שָׁלְמוּ מִלְּהַקְרִיב פּוֹתְחִין דַּלְתוֹת הָעֲזָרָה וְיוֹצֵאת כַּת הָרִאשׁוֹנָה וְנִכְנְסָה שְׁנִיָּה”
- Pesachim 64b“אֵין הַפֶּסַח נִשְׁחָט אֶלָּא בְּשָׁלֹשׁ כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל שְׁלֹשִׁים שְׁלֹשִׁים בְּנֵי אָדָם”
- Exodus 12:5“שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר בֶּן שָׁנָה יִהְיֶה לָכֶם מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים תִּקָּחוּ”
Project decisionTour's choice: the waiting in the Ezrat Nashim and a lamb beside each man, its breed and fleece; the Torah allows a lamb or a kid. The Nikanor gate stays open, as throughout the tour, although the Mishnah has it closed while the first group is inside — by itself according to Abaye, closed by people according to Rava (Pesachim 64b).