The Passover Pilgrimage

Why did the Torah command a pilgrimage for Pesach? If the men were not allowed to appear empty-handed, what did they bring?

What Are Pilgrimage Festivals? | My Jewish Learning

“Historical texts and archeological evidence indicate that in late antiquity, during the Hellenistic and Roman eras, the pilgrimage festivals were a profoundly significant social and religious institution, bringing Jews from all over the ancient world of the Mediterranean to Jerusalem. Thousands upon thousands of Jews made these pilgrimages throughout the year and supported a vast commercial enterprise including the raising of animals for sacrifices, a lively animal market, a complex banking community to enable pilgrims to exchange currencies, and hundreds of inns and taverns to lodge the travelers.”

Part One: The Pilgrimage Journey

1. Communal tithe

Before setting out on the journey, in each town every household was required to contribute one half-shekel to the Holy Temple. This money was used in the coming year to purchase animals for communal offerings

2. The journey begins!

Pilgrims would walk or ride animals for days, bringing along their needed supplies to reach Jerusalem. During the trip, it was important to avoid walking over unmarked graves since they impart ritual impurity; workers were sent out from the Holy Temple to mark the graves with whitewash

3. Ashes of the Red Heifer

Pilgrims would approach Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, where the preparation of the ashes of the red heifer would take place. This ritual is shrouded in mystery, but we know that a red cow was slaughtered and burned, and its ashes were mixed with water and hyssop. This concoction was used by the kohanim to purify anyone who had become ritually impure

4. Ancient AirBnB

To accommodate all the pilgrims, the Jerusalemites put them up in their own houses If a towel was hung over the door, it meant that there was still room to sleep and a place to eat at the table. Together the house's residents and guests would destroy the remaining chametz before Pesach officially began

Part Two: Preparing the Bring the Sacrifice

5. Entering the Temple complex

Pilgrims entered the Temple at the Hulda Gate, on the southern end of Mount. It was forbidden to enter the Temple wearing the incorrect clothing, like leather shoes. Once inside, they would turn to the east and circle the entire Holy Temple on the eastern side

6. Viewing the Menorah and Showbread

On the pilgrimage festivals, the kohanim would carry out from the Holy of Holies the golden menorah and the golden Table of the Showbread, so everyone could view them.

7. Kneeling before G-d

Pilgrims would approach the soreg, a short wall that separated the impure and pure Jews, and kneel on a specific stone as a gesture of humility and thanks before the Divine

Part Three: Bringing the Pesach Sacrifice

8. Entering the Temple Courtyard

The kohanim allowed pilgrims to enter into the smaller Temple Courtyard, one group at a time. As they did so, the Levites stood on their platform and sounded blasts from their shofars and silver trumpets

9. Slaughtering the sacrifice

Within the Temple Courtyard, the pilgrims perform the ritual slaughter of the Pesach sacrifice by cutting the lamb following a prescribed routine. The kohanim formed a line so that once the blood from the sacrifice was drained into the mizrak (ritual bowl), they could pass it from one to the next, all the way to the altar. The last kohen in line would pour the blood onto the base of the altar. Then the kohanim climbed up the altar carrying pieces of the offerings to be roasted on the altar fire - those that were forbidden to eat.

10. Hosting the Seder

The pilgrims would then bring the rest of the lamb back to their guest houses and hold the Pesach seder! The lamb had to be roasted specifically, and could only be roasted in an oven specially prepared for the sacrifice

11. Singing Under the Stars

After the seder, the pilgrims would climb to the rooftops of their buildings and sing Hallel together while facing the holy Temple

12. The First Omer

The next day, they would bring the first omer - the first barley harvest

Other Sacrifices Brought to the Temple

• Two daily sacrifices, one in the morning and one in the evening provided communally
• The firstborn animal

Positive Sacrifices

• Burnt-offering / ascent-offering: desire to be closer to the divine
• Thanksgiving: Gratitude for a divine favor
• Peace-offering: Celebration, wishing for future peace

Negative Sacrifices

• Sin-offering: accidental transgression of a mitzvah, taking responsibility

• Penalty-offering: when someone was unsure if they transgressed a mitzvah

• Penalty to the Temple: if someone damaged the Temple, they would bring an offering as well as a monetary fine

Shir Ha-ma’alot

Ashrei kol-yiray Adonai ha-holech bi-d’rachav:

Yagiya kapecha ki tochal ashrecha vi-tov licha:

Eshticha ki-gefen poriyah bi-yarkitay vaytecha banecha ki-sh’tilay zaytim saviv li-shulchanecha:

Hineh ki-ken yivarech gever yiray Adonai:

Yivarechicha Adonai mi-tzi’on u-ri’eh bi-tuv Yirushalyim kol yimay chayecha:

u-ri’eh vanim li-vanecha shalom al-Yisrael.