Ki Tisa reflects on the calling of self-sacrifice

Towards the beginning of Ki Tisa, the Torah gives us the first depictions of the Kiyor, the washbashin that was to be used by the Kohanim before they engaged in any Mishkan service. So important is the act of washing the hands and feet, that the verb rachatz (wash) appears in every one of the four verses that describe this vessel, and the warning of “and they will not die” (as long as they are sure to wash) appears twice.

Let’s address three questions. First, why such a severe warning and punishment of death for not rinsing one’s hands and feet? Second, is there something to be learned from the overuse of the verb rachatz? Finally, why is the command for the Kiyor issued so far after all the other vessels of the Mishkan have been described? Was it an afterthought?

The Pesikta (Ki Tisa 30:21) summarizes the offenses that could bring about the Kohen’s death: doing the service while intoxicated, with a bare head, missing a garment, or not having washed hands and feet before doing the Mishkan service. The Mechilta answers our glaring question – this is a chok, a rule which defies logic; it comes from the One Above, describing how He wants His Mishkan to operate.

There is a debate as to how many spigots the Kiyor had. Rabbi Chaim Paltiel noted that the root rachatz appears four times, indicating there were four spigots, enough for Aharon, Moshe and Aharon’s sons to wash at the same time (based on Shmot 40:31). Oddly enough, Aharon had four sons at this time. Are we to infer from this opinion that two of his sons were fated to die, even before they entered the Holy of Holies (Vayikra 10:2)?

Ibn Ezra records the opinion of the ancient Rabbis, that there were two spigots. If this approach is true, our question of the fate of Aharon’s sons can be voided.