Before any service, the kohen sanctifies his hands and feet with the water of the Kiyor: right hand laid on the right foot, left hand on the left foot, bending over, according to the Rambam. The Torah makes it a perpetual law, “that they die not,” and a service performed without this washing is invalid. It is the first act of the morning tamid: the one who won the removal of the ashes is told “take care not to touch the vessel before you have sanctified your hands and feet from the Kiyor.” The tamid tour places this kohen south of the Kiyor, bent over his feet.
Dimensions
- hands and feet together, bending over
- right hand on the right foot, left hand on the left foot
- before any service: the first act of the tamid
- the Kiyor between the Ulam and the altar, drawn toward the south
Sources
- Exodus 30:19-21“וְרָחֲצוּ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו מִמֶּנּוּ אֶת יְדֵיהֶם וְאֶת רַגְלֵיהֶם… וְרָחֲצוּ יְדֵיהֶם וְרַגְלֵיהֶם וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ”
- Tamid 1:4“הִזָּהֵר שֶׁמָּא תִגַּע בַּכְּלִי, עַד שֶׁתְּקַדֵּשׁ יָדֶיךָ וְרַגְלֶיךָ מִן הַכִּיּוֹר”
- Rambam, Hilchot Bi'at HaMikdash 5:16“מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ הַיְמָנִית עַל גַּבֵּי רַגְלוֹ הַיְמָנִית וְיָדוֹ הַשְּׂמָאלִית עַל גַּבֵּי רַגְלוֹ הַשְּׂמָאלִית וְשׁוֹחֶה וּמְקַדֵּשׁ”
- Zevachim 2:1“כָּל הַזְּבָחִים שֶׁקִּבֵּל דָּמָן… שֶׁלֹּא רְחוּץ יָדַיִם וְרַגְלַיִם… פָּסָל”
- Middot 3:6“הַכִּיּוֹר הָיָה בֵּין הָאוּלָם וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וּמָשׁוּךְ כְּלַפֵּי הַדָּרוֹם”
Project decisionTour's choice: the posture follows the Rambam to the letter; the Mishna does not describe it. His place south of the Kiyor, facing it, is also a choice.