The Avodah of Yom Kippur





Unlike any other Avodah performed throughout the year, part of the Avodah of Yom Kippur was performed in the Kodesh Hakodoshim. Rashi designates the Avodah related to the Kodesh Hakodoshim as Avodas P'nim (inner Avodah) and the rest as Avodas Chutz (outer Avodah).

During the Avodas Chutz, the Kohain Gadol wore the eight garments he wore during the Avodah throughout the year. These were known as Bigdai Zahav, the golden garments, because they were made partly of gold threads. During the Avodas P'nim, he wore four linen garments known as Bigdai Lavan, the white garments, instead.

Thus the Kohain Gadol wore the garments in the following sequence:
1) gold 2) linen 3) gold 4) linen 5) gold


The Kohain washed his hands and feet (Kiddush) before each time he removed one set of garments and after he donned another set. Thus, he washed his hands and feet ten times during the day. He also immersed himself in a Mikveh during each change of garments for a total of five Tevillos. Thus, the order of the Avodah, the garments, the Tevillos and Kiddushim is as follows:

daily Avodah | Special Avodah of Yom Kippur | daily Avodah
Gold Linen Gold Linen Gold
Tevillah 1 Tevillah 2 Tevillah 3 Tevillah 4 Tevillah 5
Kiddush 1 Kiddush 3 Kiddush 5 Kiddush 7 Kiddush 9
Avodas Chutz Avodas P'nim Avodas Chutz Avodas P'nim Avodas Chutz
Kiddush 2 Kiddush 4 Kiddush 6 Kiddush 8 Kiddush 10

The first and last column in the chart (shown in pink) show the daily Avodah done by the Kohain Gadol first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. The three middle columns (shown in light blue) are those Avodos that are unique to Yom Kippur.



All text and graphics are from the book "The Yom Kippur Avodah," by Rabbi Menachem Moshe Oppen, illustrations by Shepsil Scheinberg, © C.I.S. Publishers,1997 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We welcome your questions and comments .