4,009. A Kohein Who Worked All Night

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 5:7

If a Kohein Gadol didn’t immerse or sanctify his hands and feet between changing clothes and between performing different services on Yom Kippur, but rather he just keeps on serving, his service is valid. This is because immersing and sanctifying at those times are not rules that apply equally to Aaron (who was a Kohein Gadol) and his sons (who were regular kohanim). Regarding the sanctification in the morning, Exodus 30:19 says, “Aaron and his sons shall wash from it (i.e., the basin).” Only an obligation that applies equally to all kohanim would invalidate the service, and that refers to the initial sanctification of the day.

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 5:8

If a kohein sanctified his hands today, he must do so again tomorrow even if he didn’t sleep that entire night. This is because hands are invalidated through the mere passage of the night. Even if he sanctified his hands at night and burned the fats all night long, he must go back and re-sanctify the next day for that day’s service.