Tzitz

TZITZ

"KODESH LA'HASHEM" (Shmos 28,36)

Gemara Shabbos 62b: The words "Kodesh la'HaShem" were written on the Tzitz (which rested on the Cohen Gadol’s head) on two lines.

How did the words appear on the Tzitz?

1. According to RASHI's first explanation, "Kodesh La" was on the center of the bottom line, and "HaShem" was on the center of the top line. The words were out of order as found in the verse indicating another word appeared above the name of HaShem.
2. According to RASHI's second explanation and the RAMBAM (Hilchos Klei ha'Mikdash 9:1), "Kodesh" was on the center of the bottom line, and "la'HaShem" was on the center of the top line. In order to explain why the Tzitz found in Rome did not look like that, the Rambam adds that it is acceptable, b'Di'eved, to write both words in one line, "and sometimes they did write it in one line."
3. TOSFOS says that "Kodesh La" was on the beginning of the bottom line, and "HaShem" was inscribed on the end of the top line. Tosfos did not accept the above versions since that would lead to the words being read out of order. Thus, in their version the verse could be read in order and the name of “HaShem” would be on top.
4. The RASHBA, in the name of RABEINU TAM, explains that Tosfos' explanation is not acceptable, because it is not the manner of people to read the second (bottom) line first. He says that "Kodesh La" was written on the end of the top line, and "HaShem" was written on the beginning of the bottom line. He explains that when the Gemara says that "HaShem" was written "above," it means that it was written on the first vertical column. "Below" means that "Kodesh La" was written on the second vertical column.

י-ה-ו-ה
קדש ל
לי-ה-ו-ה
קדש
י-ה-ו-ה
קדש ל
קדש ל
י-ה-ו-ה