The Fifteen Steps

Fifteen semicircular steps rise from the Ezrat Nashim to the Ezrat Israel. They correspond to the fifteen Shir HaMaalot of Psalms, and the Leviim stand on them with their instruments to sing during Simchat Beit HaShoeva. Beneath the Ezrat Israel, opening onto the Ezrat Nashim, are the chambers where they stored their instruments, the Lishkot HaLeviim, one on each side of the steps.

Dimensions

• 15 semicircular steps

Sources

• Middot 2:5“like half a round threshing floor”
• Middot 2:6“וּלְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ תַחַת עֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּפְתוּחוֹת לְעֶזְרַת הַנָּשִׁים, שֶׁשָּׁם הַלְוִיִּם נוֹתְנִים כִּנּוֹרוֹת וּנְבָלִים וּמְצִלְתַּיִם וְכָל כְּלֵי שִׁיר”
• Sukkah 5:4“כְּנֶגֶד חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת שֶׁבַּתְּהִלִּים, שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶן לְוִיִּים עוֹמְדִין בִּכְלֵי שִׁיר וְאוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה”
• Rambam, Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 5:5“וְשַׁעַר זֶה הוּא הַנִּקְרָא שַׁעַר הָעֶלְיוֹן וְהוּא שַׁעַר נִיקָנוֹר”

Project decisionThe sources set the fifteen steps against the fifteen Shir HaMaalot; they do not say that these psalms were the ones sung there. Sukkah 5:4 calls the gate at the top of the steps Sha'ar HaElyon; the Rambam (Beit HaBechirah 5:5) identifies it with the Gate of Nikanor.