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The Tabernacle (reconstruction)

Kodesh Hakodashim, in Hebrew: (Biblical: קֹדֶשׁ הַקָּדָשִׁים Qṓḏeš HaqQŏḏāšîm), "Holy of Holies", the Most Holy Place in traditional Judaism, is the inner sanctuary within the Tabernacle and Temple in Jerusalem when Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple were standing. Traditional Judaism regards the location where the inner sanctuary was originally located, on the Temple Mount in Mount Moriah, as retaining some or all of its original sanctity for use in a future Third Temple. The exact location of the Kadosh Hakadashim is a subject of dispute.

Traditional Judaism regards the Kodesh Hakodashim as the place where the presence of God dwells. In the wilderness, on the day that the tabernacle was first raised up, the cloud of the Lord covered the tabernacle. There are other times that this was recorded, and instructions were given that the Lord would appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat, and at that time the priests should not enter into the tabernacle (Leviticus 16:2). According to the Hebrew Bible, the Kadosh Hakadashim contained the Ark of the Covenant with representation of Cherubim. Upon completion of the dedication of the Tabernacle, the Voice of God spoke to Moses "from between the Cherubim". (Numbers 7:89).

The Talmud gives detailed descriptions of Temple architecture and layout. According Babylonian Talmud Tractate Yoma, the Kodesh Hakodashim is located in the center North-South but significantly to the West from an East-West perspective, with all the major courtyards and functional areas lying to its east.

Main article: Yom Kippur

The Kodesh Hakodashim was entered once a year by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) on the Yom Kippur, to sprinkle the blood of sacrifical animals (a bull offered as atonement for the Priest and his household, and a goat offered as atonement for the people) and offer incense upon the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat which sat on top of the ark in the First Temple (The Second Temple had no ark and the blood was sprinkled where the Ark would have been and the incense was left on the Foundation Stone). The animal was sacrificed on the Brazen Altar and the blood was carried into the most holy place. The golden censers were also found in the Most Holy Place. During the ritual, the High Priest would pronounce the Tetragrammaton, the only point according to traditional Judaism that it was pronounced out loud. According to Jewish tradition, the people prostrated themselves fully on the ground when it was said.

According to the Talmud, the High Priest's face upon exit from the Holy of Holies was radiant.

Tabernacle's basic floorplan - facing east (right)

According to the Hebrew Bible. In order that God may dwell among the Israelites God gave Moses instructions for erecting a sanctuary. The directions provide for:

1. A wooden ark, gilded inside and outside, for the Tablets of the Covenant, with a cover similarly gilded as the "mercy seat" for the Divine Presence;
2. A gilt table for the "Table of Showbread";
3. A golden menorah, lampstand of 7 oil lamps for a light never to be extinguished;
4. The dwelling, including the curtains for the roof, the walls made of boards resting on silver feet and held together by wooden bolts, the purple curtain veiling the Holy of Holies, the table and candlestick, and the outer curtain;
5. A sacrificial altar made of bronzed boards for its korban;
6. The outer court formed by pillars resting on bronze pedestals and connected by hooks and crossbars of silver, with embroidered curtains;
7. Recipe and preparation of the oil for the Lampstand.

The Talmud supplies additional details, and describes the ritual performed by the High Priest.

At present it is conjectured that it is located near the Muslim Al-Aqsa Mosque under the Dome of the Rock which stands on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, though the exact location of the Most Holy Place is not known with any certainty. Most Orthodox Jews today completely avoid climbing up to Temple Mount, to prevent them from accidentally stepping on the Most Holy Place or any sanctified areas. A few Orthodox Jewish authorities, following the opinion of the medieval scholar Maimonides, permit Jews to visit parts of the Temple Mount known not to be anywhere near any of the sanctified areas. Orthodox Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount, who come especially from those groups associated with the Temple Institute and its efforts to rebuild a Temple, seek to conform to the minimal requirements for coming near the Temple, such as immersing in a mikvah, not coming during or following menstruation or immediately following a seminal emission, not showing their back towards its presumed location, and other strictures. Muslim authorities, who control the Temple Mount, prohibit Jewish visitors from praying or bringing ritual objects there.

• Holy of Holies