At Simchat Beit HaSho'eva, the Leviim stand on the fifteen steps that lead down from the Ezrat Israel to the Ezrat Nashim, with kinorot, nevalim, cymbals, trumpets and countless instruments, and sing. Fifteen steps, like the fifteen Songs of Ascents in Psalms. The rest of the year, the song of the korban is sung on the Dukhan, near the altar. On the night of Sukkot, the tour places fifteen of them, one per step, facing the Ezrat Nashim.
Dimensions
- fifteen steps, from the Ezrat Israel to the Ezrat Nashim
- instruments “without number”
- one Levite per step
Sources
- Sukkah 5:4“וְהַלְוִיִּם בְּכִנּוֹרוֹת וּבִנְבָלִים וּבִמְצִלְתַּיִם וּבַחֲצוֹצְרוֹת וּבִכְלֵי שִׁיר בְּלֹא מִסְפָּר, עַל חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מַעֲלוֹת הַיּוֹרְדוֹת מֵעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעֶזְרַת נָשִׁים”
- Middot 2:5“וַחֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מַעֲלוֹת עוֹלוֹת מִתּוֹכָהּ לְעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּנֶגֶד חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מַעֲלוֹת שֶׁבַּתְּהִלִּים”
Project decisionTour's choice: one Levite per step, their instruments and the way they face. The Mishna gives neither their number nor their place on the steps. The linen kutonet is taken from the singers of the Dukhan.