http://seforim.blogspot.com/2006/08/where-are-temple-vessels.html


Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Where are the Temple Vessels?



It seems that among many, it is assumed the temple vessels (klei
haMikdash) are housed in the Vatican. In 2004, Rabbis Amar and Metzger
asked the Pope to return the temple vessels. Earlier, Shimon Shetreet,
the minster of religion, also asked the Pope to return these, and,
according to Shetreet's account, told the Pope he was unwelcome in
Israel until he did so. But, it seems that although these people were
willing to issue demands about these vessels, they did not do any
research prior to establish whether in all likelyhood the vessels are
actually in the vatican.

Josephus records that various vessels, clothing and materials were
taken by Titus and brought back to Rome. These were eventually housed
in the Temple of Peace. In all likeyhood, this is were various Tanaim
saw some of the vessels. Most notably, the headplate (tzit) as well as
the curtain (perochet) was seen in Rome in about the second century CE.
Additionally, famously, the Menorah and the Table from the Temple is
recorded (a point to which we will return in a bit) on the Arch of
Titus.

So, up to around the second century we have some evidence of the
location of the vessels, but what happened after that? To simplfy Roman
history, Roman was sacked and its treasures were taken. It seems that
the Vandals or Gizrac took the various treasures, including the
"treasures that Titus took." According to one account these were sent
back to Jerusalem to a Church (not longer extant and its location
unclear) or they were plundered by someone else. Yet, it would appear
this has ignored and instead been assumed that if the vessels were in
Rome at some point they would remain there for close to 2,000 years.
Additionally, if one assumes that these vessels remained in Rome, why
is that they were never displayed? One cannot claim out of fear that
Jews would claim them as there own. Jews, for much of the period under
discussion were in no position to make such a claim.

Now to return to the Arch of Titus. In truth, it is far from clear that
the Menorah depicted on the Arch is actually that which was in the
Temple. The most basic problem is the base. The base as depicted is
hexagonal, while according to Rambam and Rashi, the base rested upon
three legs. Additionally, the base contains depictions of a sea dragon
which would more or less run afoul of the commandment not to have
idols. Although for this last issue, the Tosefta in Avodah Zara does
allow for smooth (no scales?) sea dragons, it still seems a bit strange
to have this in the Temple, in the Holy section.

To answer the first problem R. Herzog, the former Chief Rabbi of
Israel, offered that the legs broke during transport and the Romans
replaced it with this base. (This is somewhat questionable as this type
of base does not seem to be common even among Roman vessels of the
time). Or, some claim this was a Hellenstic change done to the Menorah
or the legs are really there and the "base" merely surrounds the legs.
Be it as it may, what results is that this is less than conclusive and
perhaps not even a Jewish invention.

This leads us to another issue, the State of Israel. The State of
Israel adopted as its emblem the Menorah as it appears on the Arch of
Titus. This very Menorah with the sea dragons and the "wrong" base.
Rabbi Herzog aside from his comments above, questioned the use by the
State for this very reason. He said, that they should use a three
legged Menorah instead. What is curious is that the State actually
slightly altered the original version. Originally, it was as it more or
less appeared on the Arch. Subsequently, the dragons or animals on the
base were changed from facing each other to their current position
which makes them look more like jumping gazelles than sea dragons.
Perhaps, this was to accommodate the religous sensiblities of those
like R. Herzog.

Sources: Hans Lewy, Olmot Nifgashim, 255-58; A. Berliner, Divrei Yemi
HaYehudim B'Rome, vol. 1 107-110; Josephus, Wars of the Jews 6,8,3
(357); id. 7,5 (148-152); id. (158-161); the best work on the Arch is
Yarden, "Spoils of Jerusalem on the Arch of Titus" Yarden attempts to
reconstruct the Arch to its original state and discusses all the
various issues with it, including the change in the State of Israel
emblem. What is surprising is that Prof. D. Sperber's article on this
fails to use Yarden which leads to a few errors in Sperber's article.
Sperber's article can be found in Minhagi Yisrael vol. 5 171-212. See
also, the fairly recent work on the history of the entire temple
destruction Elef Dor by Y. Horowitz vol. 1 380-397 where he discusses
some more stories of others who assumed the vatican still houses the
temple vessels. See Sefer haYovel l'Kovod Shmuel Mirsky 220-21 for R.
Herzog's position.

Where are the Temple Vessels?

http://seforim.blogspot.com/2006/08/where-are-temple-vessels.html


Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Where are the Temple Vessels?



It seems that among many, it is assumed the temple vessels (klei
haMikdash) are housed in the Vatican

http://seforim.blogspot.com/2006/08/where-are-temple-vessels.html
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Where are the Temple Vessels?