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The Area between the Ulam and the Mizbeach: The Parts of the Laver: The Muchni
The "Muchni" was constructed to solve the halachic problem of water
invalidated by "staying overnight" in the laver ("posul b'lina"). Anything that was left all night in a sanctified vessel, was deemed unfit for use.
In order to solve this problem, a priest named Ben Katin donated the Muchni, a kind of
pulley. With this pulley the laver was lowered into a nearby
water cistern at dusk and the water inside was drained. At dawn the
laver was refilled with water and with the help of the pulley, placed in its proper spot. The Mishnah tells us that sound of the Muchni could be
heard as far away as Jericho.
Dimensions
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