Church & Israel Forum
HOME
MAILBOX-
SEND US
YOUR QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS
YOM KIPPUR - THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
Primary scriptural references: Lev. 16:1-34; Lev. 23:26-32; Num. 29:7-11; Hebrews, chapters 8 & 10.
Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is the most awesome day in the life of Israel. The sages of Israel have come to regard
this day as the supreme festival and the greatest day of the year. In many ancient Jewish writings it was simply referred to as "The
Day," or "The Great Day." Several other important events of Israel's history have become attached to this day. According to Jewish
tradition, it was on this special day that Abraham was circumcised, that Isaac was bound, and that the second Tablets of Law were
given. There are many other traditions associated with this special day.
SOME YOM KIPPUR CUSTOMS
The eve of the Day of Atonement (9th of Tishri), at least until sunset, has come to be a day of feasting. The evening meal
preceding the festival is usually lavish and joyous as participants prepare their hearts for the fast ahead. At sunset the synagogue
prayers are chanted, beginning with the Kol Nidrei (all vows). As the convocation begins, there also begins a total fast of both food
and water for the next twenty-four hours. All work is forbidden according to the stern commandments found in Leviticus 16:29-31.
In Jewish tradition other restrictions such as washing oneself (for pleasure), anointing the body, wearing leather shoes, and
cohabitation are also prohibited.
In Israel, Yom Kippur witnesses an almost total absence of traffic on the roads. Those who dare defy the driving ban on this
great day may well pay for it with stones through their auto windshields. It is common to see great throngs of people walking up and
down the usually busy thoroughfares of Jerusalem, with many of these headed for the ancient Western Wall. It is also common for
people to dress in white as a symbol of this holy day. For the children, it is an opportunity to play in the streets.
The focus of the Day of Atonement continues as in ancient times to be upon the subject of forgiveness of sins. In the Days of
Awe, prior to Atonement, the custom of Tashlik is carried out. Jewish people can often be seen by bodies of water as they seek to
cast their sins away from them (Micah 7:19). There is also the custom of asking forgiveness of one another prior to the Day of
Atonement.
The theme of this whole period is one of Teshuvah (repentance or returning). The sages hold that the fate of every person,
which has been pending from Rosh ha-Shana, is finally determined on the Day of Atonement. The greeting most often heard during
this time is "Gemar Hatimah Tovah" (May you be finally sealed in the Book of Life).
YOM KIPPUR IN THE BIBLE
The awesome nature of the Day of Atonement is fully substantiated in the Bible. In Leviticus 16:31, we see that the commands
concerning this day are to be "statutes for ever" (v.29). In other words, the decrees and commandments concerning this day will
never pass away. For instance, the command of refraining from all work is an eternal command (v.29), applying both to Jews and
strangers in the land.
We can see in Leviticus 16:31 that the mood of this great day is one of affliction, with each person denying his own soul. In
biblical times any person who did not afflict his soul, or who did not refrain from work, could be cut off or destroyed from among
the people (Lev. 23:29-30).
In biblical times the order of the Day of Atonement was thus: the High Priest washed himself in water, put on his holy attire,
and began to offer a sin offering before the Lord for himself and for his house (Lev. 16:6). Later he took two goats, one for the
Lord, and one for the scapegoat (Azazel), and presented them alive before the Lord (Lev. 16:7). A lot was then cast over the goats,
and one goat was chosen to be offered up to God, while the other was chosen to be the scapegoat. The scapegoat was afterward led
away into the wilderness, symbolically bearing away Israel's sins.
On this great and awesome day, the High Priest then went before the Lord into the Holy of Holies. He went with a great sense
of awe while "all feared for his life" (Talmud - Yoma 5:1). There he first covered the Mercy Seat with a cloud of incense. Then by
sprinkling the blood of the sin offering and of the slain goat he made atonement for himself and the priesthood, for the whole
sanctuary, and for the people (Lev. 16:33).
We can imagine the relief and delight as the people of Israel watched the High Priest emerge from the sanctuary, knowing that
for at least one more year the burden of sin was lifted and forgiven. We can thus understand why Yom Kippur has come to be the
most important day in the life of Israel; a great and awesome convocation.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM YOM KIPPUR
One thing we can learn from the Bible and from Jewish traditions regarding this day, is that atonement for sin is not to be taken
lightly. It is a most serious matter - in fact, it is the most serious thing in all our human experience.
Atonement is also a costly business (Psa. 49:8; Mark 8:37). As Christians, we believe that God has pictured for us that blood
must be shed, that life must be offered up for transgressions (Lev. 17:11). The old Temple must have had the appearance and even
the smell of a slaughterhouse. Thousands of animals were constantly being offered upon the altar, and their blood sprinkled to make
atonement for Israel's sins.
Today the Tabernacle and Temple are no more. The offering up of animals has been suspended now for some 1900 years. In
Jewish tradition the concepts of atonement have come to be centered upon penitential prayers and upon acts of mercy based upon
passages like Hosea 6:6. In this passage God says, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt
offerings." The only remaining Jewish custom that involves the shedding of blood to my knowledge is that of Kapparot, where some
orthodox groups offer up chickens as a part of their rites.
For Christians, the concept of atonement continues to be deeply rooted in the idea of shedding of blood. It is not that we
continue to offer up sheep and goats. We feel that all this activity was simply a picture of a greater offering that would be made for
all humanity in the fullness of times. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the offering up of animals was not the ultimate solution to
the sin problem. The proof of its incomplete nature was the fact that the rite of atonement had to be repeated year after year (Heb.
10:1-4).
We feel that the sin problem was so costly and so complex that it could not be adequately solved without the direct intervention
of God. We believe that the Son of God, Yeshua, who was slain in God's mind from the foundation of the world, was always God's
plan of redemption (Rev. 13:8). In other words, the price of sin was paid by God even before the world began. We believe that this
one was prefigured in all the offerings of Israel and especially in the offerings of the Day of Atonement. In Psalm 40:6-8, we have a
beautiful picture of this offering. He says, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come' it is
written about me in the scroll" Amazingly, in this passage we have a Lamb who talks. We have a Lamb who is in fact a person. We
believe him to be the Son of God.
We believe that the preexistent Son of God, being in the very nature of God (Phil. 2:6), came as a perfect and eternal High
Priest (Heb. 7:17; Psa. 110:4). He came to offer himself as the atoning sacrifice (Rom. 5:11), a once-for-all offering for the sin of
mankind (Heb. 9:12; Eph. 1:7). With his own blood he brought about an eternal cleansing, not only for all mankind, but for the
earthly Tabernacle, and even for the heavenly one as well (Heb. 9:23-24). Having offered up his own life for sin, he is now risen and
sits at the right hand of God to serve as a mediating priest between God and his people (1 Tim.2:5).
This, in short, is the Christian position on the atonement. The whole subject should now hopefully take on a new glory and
splendor for us in light of the deep biblical teachings about it, and in light of the thousands of years of Jewish traditions regarding this
holy event. Unfortunately, it seems that many of us Christians tend to regard the whole matter of atonement rather lightly and
sometimes even shabbily. We often display a familiarity which can breed a form of contempt for the whole subject.
The Jewish people can teach us a great deal with their thousands of years experience in dealing with holy matters. There are
laws for holy things just as there are laws for dealing with radioactive materials. The person who violates these holy things will surely
pay the price. Since the Day of Atonement is an eternal rite, we should pay much more attention to the celebration of this day, and
use it an opportunity to reflect upon and to celebrate the great salvation that God has purchased for us.
In biblical times the shofar (ram's horn) was sounded on Yom Kippur every 50 years as the Year of Jubilee began (Lev. 25:9).
In that special year, liberty was proclaimed to slaves and family property was restored. The Jubilee was a picture of the true and final
results of atonement. Atonement brings freedom and restoration. Today in the synagogue, Yom Kippur services end with the
sounding of the shofar. This final shofar sound should fill us with delight and rejoicing just as it does the Jewish people. The Bible
says in Psalm 89:15 NKJV, "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! (shofar blast): they walk, O LORD, in the light of
Your countenance."
- Jim Gerrish
Original publication date, 1992
Picture credit: Wikimedia Commons, painted by Maurycy Gottlieb, 1878 (Vienna). It depicts Ashkenazi Jews praying in the synagogue on Yom Kippur, the
Jewish Day of Atonement. Currently located in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
HOME
MAILBOX-
SEND US
YOUR QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS
YOM KIPPUR - THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
Primary scriptural references: Lev. 16:1-34; Lev. 23:26-32; Num. 29:7-11; Hebrews, chapters 8 & 10.
Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is the most awesome day in the life of Israel. The sages of Israel have come to regard
this day as the supreme festival and the greatest day of the year. In many ancient Jewish writings it was simply referred to as "The
Day," or "The Great Day." Several other important events of Israel's history have become attached to this day. According to Jewish
tradition, it was on this special day that Abraham was circumcised, that Isaac was bound, and that the second Tablets of Law were
given. There are many other traditions associated with this special day.
SOME YOM KIPPUR CUSTOMS
The eve of the Day of Atonement (9th of Tishri), at least until sunset, has come to be a day of feasting. The evening meal
preceding the festival is usually lavish and joyous as participants prepare their hearts for the fast ahead. At sunset the synagogue
prayers are chanted, beginning with the Kol Nidrei (all vows). As the convocation begins, there also begins a total fast of both food
and water for the next twenty-four hours. All work is forbidden according to the stern commandments found in Leviticus 16:29-31.
In Jewish tradition other restrictions such as washing oneself (for pleasure), anointing the body, wearing leather shoes, and
cohabitation are also prohibited.
In Israel, Yom Kippur witnesses an almost total absence of traffic on the roads. Those who dare defy the driving ban on this
great day may well pay for it with stones through their auto windshields. It is common to see great throngs of people walking up and
down the usually busy thoroughfares of Jerusalem, with many of these headed for the ancient Western Wall. It is also common for
people to dress in white as a symbol of this holy day. For the children, it is an opportunity to play in the streets.
The focus of the Day of Atonement continues as in ancient times to be upon the subject of forgiveness of sins. In the Days of
Awe, prior to Atonement, the custom of Tashlik is carried out. Jewish people can often be seen by bodies of water as they seek to
cast their sins away from them (Micah 7:19). There is also the custom of asking forgiveness of one another prior to the Day of
Atonement.
The theme of this whole period is one of Teshuvah (repentance or returning). The sages hold that the fate of every person,
which has been pending from Rosh ha-Shana, is finally determined on the Day of Atonement. The greeting most often heard during
this time is "Gemar Hatimah Tovah" (May you be finally sealed in the Book of Life).
YOM KIPPUR IN THE BIBLE
The awesome nature of the Day of Atonement is fully substantiated in the Bible. In Leviticus 16:31, we see that the commands
concerning this day are to be "statutes for ever" (v.29). In other words, the decrees and commandments concerning this day will
never pass away. For instance, the command of refraining from all work is an eternal command (v.29), applying both to Jews and
strangers in the land.
We can see in Leviticus 16:31 that the mood of this great day is one of affliction, with each person denying his own soul. In
biblical times any person who did not afflict his soul, or who did not refrain from work, could be cut off or destroyed from among
the people (Lev. 23:29-30).
In biblical times the order of the Day of Atonement was thus: the High Priest washed himself in water, put on his holy attire,
and began to offer a sin offering before the Lord for himself and for his house (Lev. 16:6). Later he took two goats, one for the
Lord, and one for the scapegoat (Azazel), and presented them alive before the Lord (Lev. 16:7). A lot was then cast over the goats,
and one goat was chosen to be offered up to God, while the other was chosen to be the scapegoat. The scapegoat was afterward led
away into the wilderness, symbolically bearing away Israel's sins.
On this great and awesome day, the High Priest then went before the Lord into the Holy of Holies. He went with a great sense
of awe while "all feared for his life" (Talmud - Yoma 5:1). There he first covered the Mercy Seat with a cloud of incense. Then by
sprinkling the blood of the sin offering and of the slain goat he made atonement for himself and the priesthood, for the whole
sanctuary, and for the people (Lev. 16:33).
We can imagine the relief and delight as the people of Israel watched the High Priest emerge from the sanctuary, knowing that
for at least one more year the burden of sin was lifted and forgiven. We can thus understand why Yom Kippur has come to be the
most important day in the life of Israel; a great and awesome convocation.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM YOM KIPPUR
One thing we can learn from the Bible and from Jewish traditions regarding this day, is that atonement for sin is not to be taken
lightly. It is a most serious matter - in fact, it is the most serious thing in all our human experience.
Atonement is also a costly business (Psa. 49:8; Mark 8:37). As Christians, we believe that God has pictured for us that blood
must be shed, that life must be offered up for transgressions (Lev. 17:11). The old Temple must have had the appearance and even
the smell of a slaughterhouse. Thousands of animals were constantly being offered upon the altar, and their blood sprinkled to make
atonement for Israel's sins.
Today the Tabernacle and Temple are no more. The offering up of animals has been suspended now for some 1900 years. In
Jewish tradition the concepts of atonement have come to be centered upon penitential prayers and upon acts of mercy based upon
passages like Hosea 6:6. In this passage God says, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt
offerings." The only remaining Jewish custom that involves the shedding of blood to my knowledge is that of Kapparot, where some
orthodox groups offer up chickens as a part of their rites.
For Christians, the concept of atonement continues to be deeply rooted in the idea of shedding of blood. It is not that we
continue to offer up sheep and goats. We feel that all this activity was simply a picture of a greater offering that would be made for
all humanity in the fullness of times. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the offering up of animals was not the ultimate solution to
the sin problem. The proof of its incomplete nature was the fact that the rite of atonement had to be repeated year after year (Heb.
10:1-4).
We feel that the sin problem was so costly and so complex that it could not be adequately solved without the direct intervention
of God. We believe that the Son of God, Yeshua, who was slain in God's mind from the foundation of the world, was always God's
plan of redemption (Rev. 13:8). In other words, the price of sin was paid by God even before the world began. We believe that this
one was prefigured in all the offerings of Israel and especially in the offerings of the Day of Atonement. In Psalm 40:6-8, we have a
beautiful picture of this offering. He says, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come' it is
written about me in the scroll" Amazingly, in this passage we have a Lamb who talks. We have a Lamb who is in fact a person. We
believe him to be the Son of God.
We believe that the preexistent Son of God, being in the very nature of God (Phil. 2:6), came as a perfect and eternal High
Priest (Heb. 7:17; Psa. 110:4). He came to offer himself as the atoning sacrifice (Rom. 5:11), a once-for-all offering for the sin of
mankind (Heb. 9:12; Eph. 1:7). With his own blood he brought about an eternal cleansing, not only for all mankind, but for the
earthly Tabernacle, and even for the heavenly one as well (Heb. 9:23-24). Having offered up his own life for sin, he is now risen and
sits at the right hand of God to serve as a mediating priest between God and his people (1 Tim.2:5).
This, in short, is the Christian position on the atonement. The whole subject should now hopefully take on a new glory and
splendor for us in light of the deep biblical teachings about it, and in light of the thousands of years of Jewish traditions regarding this
holy event. Unfortunately, it seems that many of us Christians tend to regard the whole matter of atonement rather lightly and
sometimes even shabbily. We often display a familiarity which can breed a form of contempt for the whole subject.
The Jewish people can teach us a great deal with their thousands of years experience in dealing with holy matters. There are
laws for holy things just as there are laws for dealing with radioactive materials. The person who violates these holy things will surely
pay the price. Since the Day of Atonement is an eternal rite, we should pay much more attention to the celebration of this day, and
use it an opportunity to reflect upon and to celebrate the great salvation that God has purchased for us.
In biblical times the shofar (ram's horn) was sounded on Yom Kippur every 50 years as the Year of Jubilee began (Lev. 25:9).
In that special year, liberty was proclaimed to slaves and family property was restored. The Jubilee was a picture of the true and final
results of atonement. Atonement brings freedom and restoration. Today in the synagogue, Yom Kippur services end with the
sounding of the shofar. This final shofar sound should fill us with delight and rejoicing just as it does the Jewish people. The Bible
says in Psalm 89:15 NKJV, "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! (shofar blast): they walk, O LORD, in the light of
Your countenance."
- Jim Gerrish
Original publication date, 1992
Picture credit: Wikimedia Commons, painted by Maurycy Gottlieb, 1878 (Vienna). It depicts Ashkenazi Jews praying in the synagogue on Yom Kippur, the
Jewish Day of Atonement. Currently located in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
