The Little Bell

When excavating near the site of the Temple in Jerusalem in 2011, archaeologists came across a peculiar artifact, a single unique item: a tiny gold bell, about 1 centimeter in diameter.

This artifact matches the biblical description of the high priest’s clothing: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe. (E. 28:34)

This must be one of the golden bells! It even has a little loop on top, presumably so it could be threaded and connected to the garment.

The bell apparently fell off the clothing and made its way into the drainage channel underneath the central road of Jerusalem, which led from the Shiloah Pools in the City of David to the Old City and the Temple Mount.

Why does this matter? Because this bell is the only artifact we have today from the Temple — we don’t have the altars or the table or the ark or the menorah. We have one small golden bell.

I find this fascinating and beautiful. The function of the bells was to announce the presence of the High Priest when he entered the Holy of Holies. The bells were a way for the priest to say, “I am here, and I am ready to serve.” This artifact still makes a faint ringing sound when shaken.

I think this is the most fitting of all objects from the Holy Temple, the proclamation that any Jew can make to the Divine Presence: “We are here, and we are ready to serve.” It is the “still, small voice” of humanity, seeking a connection with the divine.

Sometimes, the littlest things matter the most.