The Taddi Gate
The name of the gate on the Northern side was יִדָט – Taddi. The above Mishnah says that this gate wasn’t used “for anything.” Despite this, the commentaries say that it had some (limited) use. Specifically, some say that a kohen who became ritually impure at night would exit through that gate (Mishnah 9). This gate was chosen since barely anyone used it, thus sparing the kohen from embarrassment if people would realize that he became ritually impure. (See below for another possible use.)
On top of the lintel of this gate, there were two stones leaning against each other. This haphazard style of construction was supposed to remind people that this gate was not meant to be used under ordinary circumstances (as explained above).
Explanations for the Name Taddi
- Some say it was someone’s name (the builder perhaps) who came from the North.
- Some say it means “secrecy” as it refers to the kohanim who would leave in secrecy when they were ritually impure.
- Rabbi Yaakov Emden suggests that the word is a contraction of two Greek words טן (which means body) and דו (which means two). It refers to the gate (referred to as a body or item) that is made of two items, i.e., the stones on top.
- The Tosfot Yom Tov suggests that the word יִדָט refers to a song and that there was a chamber near this gate where the Levites were taught the tunes of the Beit HaMikdash.
- Some say that the name of the gate was טרי (Teri) and that it comes from the Greek word :Tri” which means three – alluding to the two stones on top of the gate and the lintel beneath them.
- Based on the version of טרי, Rabbi Yaakov Emden writes that it may mean “mound” and is thus alluding to the stones on top of the gate which were shaped like a mound (טור means “mountain” in Aramaic).
May we soon enter through these gates into the Courtyard and into the Beit HaMikdash itself with the righteous Moshiach!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom UMevorach and may we celebrate Tisha Be’Av with Moshiach!
Copyright 2025 by Rabbi Aryeh Citron
