holies

There is a teaching : R. Ishmael b. Elisha said : Once I entered [the Holy of Holies] to offer incense in the innermost part of the Sanctuary, and I saw Okteriel, Jah, the Lord of Hosts, seated upon a high and exalted throne. He said to me, "Ishmael, My son, bless Me." I replied, "May it be Thy will that Thy mercy may subdue Thy wrath ; and may Thy mercy prevail over Thy attributes, so that Thou mayest deal with Thy children in the quality of mercy and enter on their behalf within the line of strict justice." And He nodded His head towards me. We are thus informed that the blessing of a common person should not be esteemed lightly in thine eyes.

If he is riding upon an ass, he should alight and say the Tefillah ; but if he is unable to alight, he should turn his face [in the direction of Jerusalem] If he is unable to turn his face, he should direct his heart towards the Holy of Holies. If he is journeying in a ship or on a raft, he should direct his heart towards the Holy of Holies.

If he is riding upon an ass, he should alight and say the Tefillah ; but if he is unable to alight, he should turn his face [in the direction of Jerusalem] If he is unable to turn his face, he should direct his heart towards the Holy of Holies. If he is journeying in a ship or on a raft, he should direct his heart towards the Holy of Holies.

To what do the twenty-four benedictions of the fast day correspond ? R. Helbo said: To the twenty-four "cries" Solomon mentioned when he brought the Ark into the house of the Holy of Holies (I Kings viii.). In that case, one should say them every day! [No ;] when did Solomon say them ? On a day of supplication ; and so we likewise say them on a day of supplication.

If he is standing outside the [Holy] Land, he must direct his heart towards the land of Israel ; as it is said, "And pray unto Thee toward their land" (ibid. v. 48). If he is standing in the land of Israel, he must direct his heart towards Jerusalem ; as it is said, "And they pray unto the Lord toward the city which Thou hast chosen" (ibid. v. 44). If he is standing in Jerusalem, he must direct his heart towards the Temple ; as it is said, "And pray toward this house" (II Chron. vi. 32). If he is standing in the Temple, he must direct his heart towards the Holy of Holies; as it is said, "And they pray toward this place" (I Kings viii. 35). If he is standing in the Holy of Holies, he must direct his heart towards the mercy-seat. If he is standing behind the mercy-seat, he must imagine himself to be in front of it. Consequently if he is standing in the East, he must turn West ; if in the West, he must turn East ; if in the South, he must turn North ; if in the North, he must turn South. As a result, all Israel will be directing their heart to one spot.

If he is standing outside the [Holy] Land, he must direct his heart towards the land of Israel ; as it is said, "And pray unto Thee toward their land" (ibid. v. 48). If he is standing in the land of Israel, he must direct his heart towards Jerusalem ; as it is said, "And they pray unto the Lord toward the city which Thou hast chosen" (ibid. v. 44). If he is standing in Jerusalem, he must direct his heart towards the Temple ; as it is said, "And pray toward this house" (II Chron. vi. 32). If he is standing in the Temple, he must direct his heart towards the Holy of Holies; as it is said, "And they pray toward this place" (I Kings viii. 35). If he is standing in the Holy of Holies, he must direct his heart towards the mercy-seat. If he is standing behind the mercy-seat, he must imagine himself to be in front of it. Consequently if he is standing in the East, he must turn West ; if in the West, he must turn East ; if in the South, he must turn North ; if in the North, he must turn South. As a result, all Israel will be directing their heart to one spot.

A man should not behave with levity towards the Eastern Gate [of the Temple], since it is directed towards the Holy of Holies. Nor may one enter the Temple Mount with his staff, his sandal, his wallet, and with the dust upon his feet ; nor may he use it as a short cut, and to expectorate [on the Temple Mount is forbidden] a fortiori. At the conclusion of every benediction in the Sanctuary they used to say

A man should not behave with levity towards the East Gate [of the Temple], since it is directed towards the Holy of Holies, etc. Rab Judah said in the name of Rab : This is only meant from Sophim inwards, and only applies to one who can see [the Temple]. It has been similarly reported : R. Abba b. R. Hijya. b. Abba said : Thus declared R. Johanan : This is only meant from Sophim inwards, and only applies to one who can see [the Temple] and when there is no barrier [between him and it], and at the time when the Shekinah rests [upon the Sanctuary].

as it has been taught: What [part of Jerusalem] was in the portion of Judah? The Temple mount, the chambers, and the courtyards. And what was in the portion of Benjamin? The hall, the sanctuary and the holy of holies.

Another time, they were ascending to Jerusalem, .When they came to Har haTzofim, they tore their clothes. When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the place of the Holy of Holies. They started to cry, but Rabbi Akiva was laughing. The other sages said to him, Why are you laughing? He said to them, Why do you weep? They replied The place about which was written (Numbers 1,51) "and the non-Kohen that draws near shall be put to death", is now a haunt of foxes and we should not weep!?