YOM KIPPUR

By: Rabbi Jonathan Matt

Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement." It too has undergone changes during the millennia of the Jewish encounter with G-d. As described in Leviticus 16, Yom Kippur was a priestly holy day, on which the sanctuary was purified by the appropriate sacrifices. The ritual purification of the sanctuary was a prerequisite of atonement for all Israelites. The common folk would prepare themselves as well, by abstaining from work, fasting, and attending the Temple ritual (Leviticus 16:29).

Even in today's secular age, the vast majority of Jews all over the world observe Yom Kippur as a solemn fast day. What is the secret of the continuity of the Jewish religion despite the destruction of the Temple and the exile? Perhaps it was the Sages' sense for the Divine, who here guided Yom Kippur from a "Day of Atonement" to a "Day of Repentance."

We see from the Mishnah (3rd c. C.E. (AD) code of law) that the simple Jew had tended to believe that atonement would be granted automatically if the proper rituals were followed. The Sages fought against this assumption, and stipulated:

"If a man said, `I will sin and repent, and sin again and repent,' he will be given no chance to repent. [If he said,] `I will sin and the Day of Atonement will effect atonement,' then the Day of Atonement effects no atonement. For transgressions that are between man and G-d the Day of Atonement effects atonement, but for transgressions that are between a man and his fellow the Day of Atonement effects atonement only if he has appeased his fellow." (Mishnah Yoma 8:9, Danby translation)

The shift of emphasis from atonement to repentance was effected in two additional ways. First of all, the season of repentance would start a whole month earlier, from the first day, prayers of repentance precede the daily morning service and the shofar (trumpet) is sounded, piercing even the most obstinate heart.

Furthermore, the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were declared "The Ten Days of Repentance." These became days of soul-searching and of individuals asking forgiveness of one another. Through the guidance of the Sages, Yom Kippur became the culmination of a process of repentance leading to atonement, rather than the automatic ritual granting of atonement. The individual must take responsibility for his or her own actions and stand before G-d on his own merit.

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