BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA TETZAVEH 5779 Taking Center Stage: The Proper Place of the Bimah

The Rambam (Tefilla 11:13) rules that we place the bima in the middle of the shul so that everyone can hear the baal korei read the Torah. Can you ever place the bima on the side? Kesef Mishneh — If the shul is built in a way where all can hear, it’s permitted. Chasam Sofer (28) and Meshiv Davar (15) – The bima must always be in the center: The bima is in place of the mizbeach (altar) since we read the parshiyos of korbanos there. We circle the bima on Sukkos with our lulav the same way as they circled the mizbeach in the Beis Hamikdash. The mizbeach hapenimi (inner altar) was situated in the center of the Kodesh, directly opposite the Aron Kodesh in the Kodesh Kodashim, so our bima should also be in the center.