A Special Worm Called a Shamir Was Used to Cut Stones for the Hebrew Temple in Jerusalem

In the Gemara, the shamir (Hebrew: שמיר‎‎) is a worm or a substance that had the power to cut through or disintegrate stone, iron and diamond. King Solomon is said to have used it in the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem in the place of cutting tools.

In instructing us how to make the permanent altar to G‑d, the Torah says, “do not build it out of cut stone” (Ex. 20:22). Rashi comments on this verse that iron, the …

Part one: How the shamir* cut through the Temple stones, readying them for … worm called the shamir who readied the stones, so that the stones emerged hewn …

Feb 24, 2014 - Also, these sources state categorically that the shamir does not destroy any portion of the rocks or precious stones that it cuts through, unlike …

One of the questions is “what is insect shermah?” The answer given is that it is a type of worm that was used to cut and polish the stones used …

Aug 11, 2014 - What kind of device was able to cut through or disintegrate stone, iron and … temple in Jerusalem with help of a magical worm named Shamir.

… authors, Rashi, Maimonides and others Shamir was a living creature, aworm. … But how could a greenish stone cut the hardest of diamonds with its glance?

Feb 9, 2015 - What kind of device was able to cut through or disintegrate stone, iron … away and converted into dust by the devouring nature of the worms.

may be used to cut [the stones] for the Beit. Ha’Mikdash [the Temple]. Originally, there was a worm [the shamir] that would eat through the rock…[but it] is believed …

Sep 26, 2014 - Cutting stone by focusing solar radiation is no longer some religious … The tool was said to be a worm, the size of a barley grain and able to cut …