יום ב Date: 22 Adar II, 5774 (3/24/14) – Sukkah#49 {Eliezer}

MISHNA [48b]: There is a water libation (known through oral law) performed by a Kohen on the Altar that gets poured into a bowl. Once a sadducee (a denier of oral law traditions) took the water and poured it into his feet instead, and all the people pelted him with esrogim. [We only know what esrogim are due to oral law, so it was fitting to pelt him with those.]
BRAISA [48b-49a]: When the incident occurred, a piece on the horn of the altar was damaged, and the altar became unfit for service. Any altar that has a deficiency in its ramp, horn, base or square shape is disqualified for Temple service.
RAMBAM: The Altar also needs exact placement (whereas other utensils can be in general areas). This is because, it is the true one holy spot that: David and Shlomo built on, Avraham bound Issac, Noach offered his thanks after the flood, Hevel brought his offering before Kayin, Adam gave a sacrifice, and it is where Adam was created from – it is the precise spot for all of these.

E’s lesson: It is not “coincidence” that these all happened to be done on the same exact spot throughout history. Hashem creates places in space and moments time that are filled with an abundance of spirituality (and those of terrible lows to be careful of, ie: we do not travel during the nine days). We have to key in to these places and times (like Pesach coming up) to ride the high of the spiritual waves. Do not just let it pass us by. Jump on board and Surf Away…