One and a two TB Yoma 55

The High priest had to sprinkle the blood of the bull one time upward and seven times downward and then he had to sprinkle the blood of the goat one time upward and seven times downward. Saturday’s daf TB Yoma 55 explains the procedure. “The mishna taught that the High priest took the blood of the bull from the one who was stirring it so it would not coagulate, and he entered and sprinkled it like one who whips. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of: Like one who whips? Rav Yehuda demonstrated the action with his hand, like one who lashes with a whip on the back of another and who occasionally strikes lower down. A Sage taught in the Tosefta: When the High priest sprinkles the blood, he does not sprinkle on the top of the Ark cover; rather, he does so against the thickness of the Ark cover. When he sprinkles once upward, he turns his hand so that the back of his hand faces downward, and he then sprinkles upward. And when he sprinkles seven times downward, he turns his hand so its back is upward. However, he does not sprinkle on the Ark cover or below it, so that the blood does not actually come into contact with it.” (Sefaria.org translation) during the Second Temple’s time, the High priest would sprinkle where the Ark used to stand.

Every morning since my bicycle accident, I do a series of stretching exercises listening to the radio. I lose count when I stop to listen to the radio personalities or when my mind wanders and I lose focus. I can appreciate that there was a special way in which the High priest counted the number of sprinkles lest he make a mistake.

Ҥ The mishna states that the High priest counted: One; one and one; one and two. The Sages taught in a baraita that when sprinkling, the High priest counted: One; one and one; one and two; one and three; one and four; one and five; one and six; one and seven. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says that he counted: One; one and one; two and one; three and one; four and one; five and one; six and one; seven and one.

“The Gemara comments: They do not disagree about the matter itself that the High priest sprinkles once upward and seven times downward. Rather, this Sage rules in accordance with the norm in his place, and this Sage rules in accordance with the norm in his place. In one place they counted the smaller number first, while in the other place they would count the larger number first.

“In any case, everyone, both Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda, agrees that the first sprinkling upward must be counted together with each and every one of the subsequent sprinklings. What is the reason for this? Why can’t the High priest count the downward sprinklings separately? The Sages debated this matter. Rabbi Elazar said: The reason is so that he does not err in the sprinklings. If the High priest were to count downward without including the first upward sprinkling, he might mistakenly think that his calculation includes the first sprinkling, which would lead him to add another one.

“Rabbi Yoḥanan said that the reason is that the verse states: “And he shall sprinkle it with his finger upon the Ark cover, and before the Ark cover he shall sprinkle” (Leviticus 16:14). As there is no need for the verse to state: He shall sprinkle” again, what is the meaning when the verse states: “He shall sprinkle”? This teaches with regard to the first sprinkling that it must be counted with each and every subsequent one, i.e., he must mention the first sprinkling every time.

“The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between these two explanations? The Gemara answers: The practical difference between them concerns a case where he did not count the first sprinkling and did not err. That is acceptable according to the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, whereas according to Rabbi Yoḥanan the High priest acted incorrectly, as it is a mitzva to count the first one.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Rambam decides in favor of Rabbi Elazar understanding. (Sefer Avodah, Hilkhot Avodat Yom Kippur, chapter 3, Halakha 5) Who am I to disagree with Moses Maimonides, but based on my own experience exercising I too would have to vote in favor of Rabbi Elazer’s position.