The opening of the Ulam: 40 amot high by 20 wide, and without a door — the Ulam had none. According to Ketubot 106a and the Rambam (Klei HaMikdash 7:17), a curtain nonetheless hung at this entrance. Above the opening run five gall-oak beams, the maltera'ot, of increasing length, separated from one another by courses of stone; Bartenura describes them as painted and ornamented. Through this opening passes the gaze of the Kohen who, from the top of the Mount of Olives, sees the entrance of the Heikhal over the eastern wall, lower than the others.
Dimensions
- opening 40 amot high × 20 wide
- five gall-oak beams (maltera'ot) of increasing length
- without doors
Sources
- Middot 3:7
- Rambam, Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 4:8“פִּתְחוֹ שֶׁל אוּלָם הָיָה גָּבוֹהַּ אַרְבָּעִים אַמָּה וְרֹחַב עֶשְׂרִים. וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ שְׁעָרִים”
- Middot 2:4“all the walls there were high, except the eastern wall, because the Kohen who burns the para stands atop the Mount of Olives, takes aim, and sees the opening of the Heikhal at the moment of the sprinkling of the blood”
- Bartenura Middot 3:7“קוֹרוֹת מְצֻיָּרוֹת וּמְכֻיָּרוֹת… שֶׁל אִילָן שֶׁגְּדֵלִים בּוֹ עֲפָצִים”
- Ketubot 106a“אַחַת לְפִתְחוֹ שֶׁל הֵיכָל, וְאַחַת לְפִתְחוֹ שֶׁל אוּלָם”
- Rambam, Hilchot Klei HaMikdash 7:17“וְאַחַת עַל פֶּתַח הָאוּלָם”
Project decisionTour's choice: the curtain at the entrance is not shown, so that the interior can be seen from the courtyard.