About 50 Tons a Year: The Surprising Uses of Salt in the Temple

The Temple had a special chamber called the Salt Chamber.

Why did they need salt in the Temple?

On a primary level, according to Torah law, salt must be offered with every sacrifice. Salt is a preservative, and by including salt with each sacrifice, it becomes a "covenant of salt" which symbolizes eternity. Just like meat does not spoil or ferment when it is preserved with salt, so too the covenant between the Jewish people and Hashem will be preserved forever.

The early commentators offer another reason for this practice, which is related to the prohibition that forbids offering honey on the altar. Sweetness symbolizes desire - those elements that attract or draw a person toward something else - while salt symbolizes the opposite. Unlike the prevalent practice among idol worshippers, we don't sacrifice "tasty food" on the altar. Instead, we offer an aroma that will be pleasing to God. Therefore, according to one approach, salt is even placed on the wood that is put on the altar, because everything that goes on the altar is bound with a covenant of salt.

According to calculations made by Professor Rabbi Zohar Amar, based on ancient sources, fifty tons of salt were used in the Temple each year! There was even an individual who had the job of overseeing the salt in the Temple, as mentioned in Tractate Shekalim: "Ben Maklit over the salt." Apparently, this person was responsible for purchasing salt, storing it properly, and distributing it to the kohanim (priests) who needed to place salt on the sacrifices.

Salt had other interesting uses too, not all of which are familiar to us today. The Tosefta of Tractate Sukkah notes: "There was an incident with a certain Boethusian who poured the nissuch hamayim (water libation) on his feet, and all the people pelted him with their etrogs (citrons), and the corner of the altar was damaged, and the service was suspended that day, until they brought a lump of salt and placed it on the altar, so that the altar would not appear damaged, for any altar that has neither a corner, nor a ramp, nor a foundation, is invalid."

That Boethusian in this incident was none other than King Yannai. As we've recounted here before, he mocked the water libation ceremony, and the people, out of anger, pelted him with their etrogs. This fiery assault damaged the altar's corner, and the stone broke. The kohanim used salt to complete the structure of the corner, apparently by moistening it with water and turning it into a paste.

Salt had another use in the Temple too: "They would scatter salt on the ramp so that they would not slip" (Mishnah Eruvin). How does salt prevent slipping? According to one theory, this practice was instituted on cold winter days, when a layer of ice might form on the ramp, and the kohanim, who performed the service barefoot, could slip. Salt generates heat, which causes the ice to melt where it is scattered, and the water dripping from the melting ice dissolves the surrounding area. Even nowadays, salt is used to melt ice on roads.

The Sages mention another interesting use of salt in Tractate Shabbat: "They would put a lump of salt into the lamp so that it would give light and burn brightly." How does salt help a lamp burn? Apparently, oil that is not sufficiently refined contains droplets of water, which are drawn into the wick and affect the quality of the flame. When salt is placed in the oil lamp, it absorbs the water and makes the oil more refined, thus causing the flame to burn brighter. The Gemara qualifies that this practice is permitted and is not considered "ways of the Amorites," as it is based on a clear reason and methodology and is not considered sorcery, which is forbidden by the Torah.