The metzora stands outside the Ezrat Israel, on the threshold of Sha'ar Nikanor, facing west — there stand all who lack atonement when they are purified, there the sotot are made to drink. The kohen waves the live asham with the log of oil. The asham is brought to the gate; the metzora puts both hands into the Azara, leans on it, and it is slaughtered at once. Two kohanim receive the blood: one in a vessel, which he throws on the altar; the other in his right hand, which he pours into his left. The kohen inside, the metzora outside: the metzora puts his head in, and the kohen puts blood on the lobe of his right ear; then his right hand, on the thumb; then his right foot, on the big toe. Rabbi Yehudah: he put all three in at once.
Dimensions
- on the threshold, facing west
- the lobe, the thumb, the toe
Sources
- Negaim 14:9“הִכְנִיס רֹאשׁוֹ, וְנָתַן עַל תְּנוּךְ אָזְנוֹ. יָדוֹ, וְנָתַן עַל בֹּהֶן יָדוֹ. רַגְלוֹ, וְנָתַן עַל בֹּהֶן רַגְלוֹ. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, שְׁלָשְׁתָּם הָיָה מַכְנִיס כְּאֶחָד”
- Rambam, Hilchot Mechusarei Kapparah 4:2“הַמְצֹרָע עוֹמֵד חוּץ לְעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּנֶגֶד פֶּתַח מִזְרָחִית בְּאַסְקֻפַּת שַׁעַר נִיקָנוֹר וּפָנָיו לְמַעֲרָב… וְאֶחָד בְּיָדוֹ הַיְמָנִית וּמְעָרֶה לְיָדוֹ הַשְּׂמָאלִית… הַכֹּהֵן מִבִּפְנִים וְהַמְצֹרָע מִבַּחוּץ. וּמַכְנִיס הַמְצֹרָע רֹאשׁוֹ וְנוֹתֵן הַכֹּהֵן מִן הַדָּם שֶׁבְּכַפּוֹ עַל תְּנוּךְ אָזְנוֹ הַיְמָנִית”
- Sotah 1:5“שֶׁשָּׁם מַשְׁקִין אֶת הַסּוֹטוֹת, וּמְטַהֲרִין אֶת הַיּוֹלְדוֹת, וּמְטַהֲרִין אֶת הַמְּצֹרָעִים”
Project decisionTour's choice: the moment of the ear; the places of the metzora and the kohen in the gate; the blood in the palm; their features and the metzora's clothes.