zrsmith - Holy of Holies

A model of the interior of the tabernacle, according to the descriptions of the Chief Rabbi.

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: The entrance to SCP-XXXX is to be guarded by three fully armed foundation guards, masquerading as Israeli police. No personnel are permitted to approach SCP-XXXX unless accompanied by the Chief Rabbi of Israel or a Level 4 (or higher) staff member. Any unauthorized personnel who attempt to enter SCP-XXXX will be subject to immediate termination.

Procedure 330-Kodesh is to be completed annually during the event of Yom Kippur, by the Chief Priest of Israel. Under no circumstances should this process be interrupted. Any attempt by the Chief Rabbi to enter SCP-XXXX on any day other than Yom Kippur must be approved by a Level 4 (or higher) staff member, if no permission is given the Chief Rabbi must be detained as fast as possible using non-lethal means. Any observed variation from the steps of Procedure 330-Kodesh will lead to an interrogation of the Chief Priest by Foundation Personnel.

Description: SCP-XXXX refers to a room measuring 9.144 m X 9.144 m (or 20 cubits X 20 cubits), as well as the room directly adjacent to it, located at the site of the First Temple of Jerusalem. The first room (hereby referred to as SCP-XXXX-1, but known as the "Holy of Holies") is suspected to hold the artifact known as the Ark of the Covenant. Any attempts to confirm these claims have been unsuccessful. The second room (hereby referred to as the "tabernacle") is furnished with the following:

A golden menorah, consisting of 7 oil lamps. A sacrificial altar, with an obsidian knife sitting atop it. A table, holding loaves of bread. Referred to as the Showbread Table

The tabernacle is seperated from the Holy of Holies by a thick curtain embroidered with images of angels on a purple background. It is not clear if the Ark, or in fact anything at all, lies behind the curtain.

Any human who attempts to enter the tabernacle will begin profusely bleeding from the eyes. The bleeding will continue until the person dies or is pulled out of the tabernacle by an outside source. Surviving victims report no knowledge of what lies within the tabernacle. Some have reported seeing a blinding light. It is unsure if this a side effect of the ocular bleeding, or the cause.

The only exception to this effect is the current Chief Rabbi of Israel. He is able to enter the tabernacle once a year, on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. He claims that if he enters on any date other than that of Yom Kippur he will be "punished" for doing so. When asked what is meant by this he claims he does not know. Testing this claim is forbidden due to the value of keeping the Chief Rabbi alive.

On the day of Yom Kippur the Chief Rabbi is to perform Procedure 330-Kodesh. Procedure 330-Kodesh consists of the following:

Relighting the Golden Manora Taking bread from the Showbread table, and placing it onto the Sacrificial altar. Cutting his palm using the Obsidian Knife, and allowing the blood to drip onto the bread. Repeating the following phrase three times: [DATA EXPUNGED] Replacing the bread on the altar, making sure not to expose it to blood.

According to the Chief Rabbi of Israel the ritual is necessary in order to please the God worshiped in Judaism. He states that if God is not pleased "he will release his anger upon creation". At the time the Foundation became aware of the anomaly, the Chief Rabbi said that all of the knowledge he had pertaining to SCP-XXXX was passed down from his predecessor. When asked what exactly "God's anger" would entail, he insisted he did not have the information. When asked to explain the significance of the steps of Procedure 330-Kodesh, he stated that it was in accordance with the Torah.

It was also expressed that the tradition of electing a new Chief Rabbi was of "extreme importance". The new Chief Rabbi (chosen by his predecessor) is to perform his first Procedure 330-Kodesh accompanied by said predecessor. These instances are reported to last several minutes longer than standard.

Addendum XXXX-A

+ Show test logs - Hide test logs Test A - 29-09-████ Subject: [Redacted]

Procedure: Subject asked to enter the tabernacle, with a blindfold covering his eyes.

Results: Subject still experiences severe ocular bleeding. No report of a blinding light. Vision was reattained after several days in medical care.

Analysis: Bleeding is tied to proximity of SCP-XXXX, rather than perception. Note from Dr.██████: "I don't really see a point in chucking more D-Class at this thing. Human testing will be suspended until further notice." Test B - 15-04-████ Subject: Remote controlled drone, driven by Dr.████

Procedure: The drone is driven into the tabernacle, while recording it's surroundings using the onboard camera.

Results: Camera feed suffered extreme overexposure before cutting out completely. Drone completely short circuits a few seconds later.

Analysis: Electronics short circuit after a relatively small amount of time. Digital cameras will also fail.

+ Interview with SCP-073 - Interview with SCP-073 Interview took place casually between Dr. Smith and SCP-073. The following are notes taken by Dr. Smith after the interview took place. "SCP-073 shows some vague knowledge of SCP-XXXX, and is familiar with the identification 'Holy of Holies'. When asked if he was capable of entering the tabernacle, or SCP-XXXX-1, he recalled knowledge that entry was only permitted to those who were 'worthy'. Subject claims it has never visited the site in person."

+ Interview with SCP-343 - Interview with SCP-343 Interviewed: SCP-343 Interviewer: Dr. Smith Foreword: Interviewer enters SCP-343's containment cell. SCP-343 is asked if it would be willing to answer some questions. Subject concedes, and procures a cup of tea for the interviewer, before sitting down into a sofa chair. <Begin Log> Interviewer: What do you know about SCP-XXXX, located in Jerusalem? SCP-343 shows slight visual confusion. Interviewer: Otherwise known as the "Holy of Holies"? SCP-343 immediately sits up in his chair. SCP-343: Yeah, I've definitely heard of it. Interviewer: Can you tell me what it is? SCP-343: You already know what it is, or rather what they're telling you it is. But what it really is… SCP-343 chuckles, and begins to relax back into his chair. SCP-343: …is a big lie. A place for blasphemers. They say it's a place to honor me but I know that's not what's really going on in there… Interviewer: Can you tell me what is really going on in there? SCP-343 pauses for several seconds. SCP-343: No, I can't tell you. But it's something sinister. Don't ask me about it again. <End Log> Closing Statement: No further questions will be asked of SCP-343, as per his request. Further surveillance measures will be put in place for SCP-XXXX. Note from Dr. ████████: I want Motion Detectors placed around the entrance to SCP-XXXX. It's just about all we can do to make sure nothing enters without us noticing. That includes the Rabbi. Procedure 330-Kodesh will proceed as normal, until we have more information on the situation.

Interviews regarding SCP-XXXX.

Incident SCP-XXXX-██-10-19██

The Chief Rabbi enters the Tabernacle along with his successor. Procedure 330-Kodesh appears to drag on for over 10 minutes longer than usual. During this time indistinct whispered conversation is heard from outside. Approximately 16:18 minutes into the procedure a scream is heard sounding from within the tabernacle, apparently from a human male. The scream is followed by sounds of soft whimpering for approximately two minutes, before returning to silence. At 18:44 the usual phrase "[DATA EXPUNGED]" is repeated three times. At 21:33 both men exit the tabernacle unscathed, excluding the cut on the new Chief Rabbi's palm. When questioned about the experience, both Rabbis claim that everything went according to the Procedure.