מַעֲלָה

מַעֲלָהf. (b. h.; preced.) 1) ascent, step. Midd. II, 3 רום מ׳ the height of every step; a. e.Pl. מַעֲלוֹת. Ib. Succ.V, 4 חמשה עשר מ׳ היורדזת … שיר המ׳ fifteen steps leading down …, corresponding to the fifteen ‘Songs of Steps (Ps. 120 to 134). Ib. 53a הני חמש עשרה מ׳ those fifteen (Songs of) Steps. Yoma 23a מ׳ האולם the steps in front of the Temple hall (Tosef. ib. I, 12 פתח); a. fr. 2) rise. Num. R. s. 15 מַעֲלָתָן של צדיקים מ׳וכ׳ the rise of the righteous is a rise without a decline; מַעֲלָתוֹ של עשו מ׳ שכולהוכ׳ Esaus (a Romans) rise is a rise which may lead to degradation; a. e. 3) degree, gradation, superiority; preference; advantage. Yoma 44a; Num. R. s. 7 הוי מה מ׳ יש ביןוכ׳ now, there is no gradation of sanctity between the interior of the Temple and the space …, except Keth.13a, a. e. מ׳ עשו ביוחסין where priestly descent is concerned, they put up a higher standard (made the law more stringent). Kidd.70b זו מ׳ יתירה יש ביןוכ׳ this is the distinction of Israelites over converts; a. fr.Pl. as ab. Yoma 44b מ׳ דאוריתא the gradations in sanctity are of Biblical origin (v. Kel. I, 8, sq.). 3) height, on high. Mekh. Mishp. s. 15 עין של מ׳ the eye of the Lord. Tanḥ. Bshall. 23 אש של מ׳ (some ed. שֶׁלְּמַ׳), v. מַטָּה.לְמַעֲלָה a) on high, in heaven. Ḥag.II, 1 (11) מה למ׳ (Ms. M. a. Y. ed. למעלן) what is on high; Gen. R. s. 1; a. fr.Freq. מַעֲלָן, לְמַעֲלָן, שֶׁלְּמַעֲלָן, מִלְּמַ׳, v. מַטָּה.b) upward, behind, beyond. Kidd.IV, 5 מן המזבח ולמ׳, v. בָּדַק; a. fr.c) (of time) further on. Pes.50b, a. fr. מן המנחה ולמ׳ from the minḥah time and onward. Ber.26b; a. fr.d) above, of superior rank. Kel. I, 2, sq. למ׳ מהם of a higher rank (in Levitical law); a. fr.