Tamid Photo Essay in Lego® #9

The Shot

The Sought-After Scoop

A Kohen separates a bit of ashes from the Outer Mizbeyach.

The Story

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The very first official task of the day was terumas hadeshen — removing some ashes from the Outer Mizbeyach. Because this task was first, it was highly coveted, and the Kohanim would vie for the opportunity to perform it. In order to make it fair for all, this task was assigned by lottery (as in Photo #4). 

There were three fires burning on the top of the Mizbeyach every day. The main fire was located near the southeastern corner and it was on this fire that the offerings were burned and it was with the remnants of this fire that terumas hadeshen was performed. After washing his hands and feet from the Kiyor, the Kohen would take a silver shovel and use it to remove a scoop of ashes from the main fire. He then took the ashes down the ramp and placed them on the Azarah floor to the east of the ramp. According to tradition, the ashes would be miraculously swallowed up into the ground.

The Setup

This shot is modeled and rendered in Bricklink Studio with depth of field added in Photoshop (read more about this process in my introduction). The charred remnants of two fires are visible in this picture: The main fire where the Kohen is working, and the fire for the Ketores behind him. In the very center of the Mizbeyach is a pile of ashes, called the Tapuach, where the leftover ashes of all three fires would eventually be swept each morning. In the background is the Kiyor, now in its fully raised position. A small army of walking Kohanim already mounted on bent bars (to hold minifig feet) stands ready off to the side.

The Mizbeyach ramp is made of two parts. The walking surface is tiles attached to a bed of plates, and this whole subassembly rests upon two walls made from bricks that use the 75˚ 2x2x3 slope to hold the walking surface at just the right angle. Just one of the walls is shown below.

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