When you hear the words Yom haKippur; what comes to mind? What practices? Emotions? Memories? Rituals?
We spent some time this morning speaking about the process of teshuvah, and read some incredibly important works by a Jewish philosopher named Moses Maimonides, living in Spain in the 12th century.
But what I'd like to do now is go all the way back to our most ancient sources; to a book called Leviticus, a work of collected teachings and instructions which were organized and canonized by our ancestors living in ancient Israel, during the days in which a structure stood in our capital Jerusalem - a structure which was believed to be the royal earthly Palace of none other than the sovereign of all of the cosmos!
The central and arguably most important passage in this work, chapter 16, describes the pivotal moment of the year for the custodians - also known as priests - of the palace. It is an incredible chapter which details the once-a-year procedure for a single priest to enter the room which was thought to be the very throne room of the Almighty, the purpose being to cleanse the room of any and all traces of a substance called tumah, usually translated as impurity.
This tumah would be brought in a few different ways; Some of these ways were just natural and unavoidable aspects of life (certain diseases, bearing children, and being in close proximity to the dead), while it can also come to exist as a result of transgressing against the law given to Israel by the Almighty. Since tumah can be brought to existence by praiseworthy human practices as well as moral shortcomings, this tumah is in-and-of-itself entirely neutral, neither evil or good.
But as it turns out, the Almighty happens to be kind of allergic to it; He can tolerate it to some extent, but if enough collects, he cannot bear to be nearby.
And that's what's going on with these priestly custodians; they are concerned with maintaining an atmosphere clean of tumah, so the Almighty can be as comfortable as possible in his home, his palace, on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
While all of chapter 16 is well worth reading, we're going to jump in at the end, to where the focus shifts from the priest to all of Israel collectively. (Hint; that includes us!)
(כט) וְהָיְתָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ֠שְּׁבִיעִי בֶּֽעָשׂ֨וֹר לַחֹ֜דֶשׁ תְּעַנּ֣וּ אֶת־נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֗ם וְכָל־מְלָאכָה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ הָֽאֶזְרָ֔ח וְהַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃ (ל) כִּֽי־בַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה יְכַפֵּ֥ר עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם לְטַהֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֑ם מִכֹּל֙ חַטֹּ֣אתֵיכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה תִּטְהָֽרוּ׃ (לא) שַׁבַּ֨ת שַׁבָּת֥וֹן הִיא֙ לָכֶ֔ם וְעִנִּיתֶ֖ם אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם חֻקַּ֖ת עוֹלָֽם׃ (לב) וְכִפֶּ֨ר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֲשֶׁר־יִמְשַׁ֣ח אֹת֗וֹ וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר יְמַלֵּא֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ לְכַהֵ֖ן תַּ֣חַת אָבִ֑יו וְלָבַ֛שׁ אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֥י הַבָּ֖ד בִּגְדֵ֥י הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ (לג) וְכִפֶּר֙ אֶת־מִקְדַּ֣שׁ הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְאֶת־אֹ֧הֶל מוֹעֵ֛ד וְאֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ יְכַפֵּ֑ר וְעַ֧ל הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים וְעַל־כָּל־עַ֥ם הַקָּהָ֖ל יְכַפֵּֽר׃ (לד) וְהָֽיְתָה־זֹּ֨את לָכֶ֜ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֗ם לְכַפֵּ֞ר עַל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִכָּל־חַטֹּאתָ֔ם אַחַ֖ת בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (פ)
(29) And this shall be to you a law for all time:
In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall do no manner of work, neither the citizen nor the alien who resides among you.
(30) For on this day, purgation shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your transgressions; you shall be pure before YHWH.
(31) It shall be a sabbath of sabbaths for you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a law for all time.
(32) The priest who has been anointed and ordained to serve as priest in place of his father shall make atonement. He shall put on the linen vestments, the sacral vestments. (33) He shall purge the innermost Shrine; he shall purge the Tent of Meeting and the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the congregation.
(34) This shall be to you a law for all time: to make atonement for the Israelites for all their transgressions once a year.
Discussion Questions
- How many different things does this paragraph demand of Israel? What are they?
- Do you find your answer to question 1 surprising? Is there anything missing that you think should have belonged? Anything there that you think doesn't belong?
- This passage starts out by stating that this ritual is to be done on the tenth day of the seventh month. Any thoughts on why this would be? What else do you know about the calendar of Israel that might shed light on this?
- This passage mentions a few things that you have probably never seen before, but once upon a time where of HUGE significance for the entirety of our ancient Israelite civilization. Things like Tent of Meeting, the Altar, the Innermost Shrine. Have you ever learned about any of this before? If not - what do you think they might be referring to?
- What does "a law for all time mean?" Why emphasize it here? Is this any different from all of the other laws, which don't say "a law for all time?
One thing I love about the TaNaKh, referred to by many as the Jewish Bible, is that it is not a book, but a collection of writings with many voices written over a long period of time; voices constantly with different perspectives, different opinions, and different ideas as to how the people of Israel should strive to be in relationship with the Almighty.
So let's look at another passage; this one written not by a priest, but a prophet named Yoel (8th century BCE).
As we read, try to spot any differences between how Yoel says we should try to repair a relationship with the Almighty and what the priests said above.
(יב) וְגַם־עַתָּה֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה שֻׁ֥בוּ עָדַ֖י בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וּבְצ֥וֹם וּבְבְכִ֖י וּבְמִסְפֵּֽד׃ (יג) וְקִרְע֤וּ לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְאַל־בִּגְדֵיכֶ֔ם וְשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־חַנּ֤וּן וְרַחוּם֙ ה֔וּא אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙ וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד וְנִחָ֖ם עַל־הָרָעָֽה׃ (יד) מִ֥י יוֹדֵ֖עַ יָשׁ֣וּב וְנִחָ֑ם וְהִשְׁאִ֤יר אַֽחֲרָיו֙ בְּרָכָ֔ה מִנְחָ֣ה וָנֶ֔סֶךְ לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (פ) (טו) תִּקְע֥וּ שׁוֹפָ֖ר בְּצִיּ֑וֹן קַדְּשׁוּ־צ֖וֹם קִרְא֥וּ עֲצָרָֽה׃ (טז) אִסְפוּ־עָ֞ם קַדְּשׁ֤וּ קָהָל֙ קִבְצ֣וּ זְקֵנִ֔ים אִסְפוּ֙ עֽוֹלָלִ֔ים וְיֹנְקֵ֖י שָׁדָ֑יִם יֵצֵ֤א חָתָן֙ מֵֽחֶדְר֔וֹ וְכַלָּ֖ה מֵחֻפָּתָֽהּ׃
(יח) וַיְקַנֵּ֥א יְהוָ֖ה לְאַרְצ֑וֹ וַיַּחְמֹ֖ל עַל־עַמּֽוֹ׃
(כו) וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם אָכוֹל֙ וְשָׂב֔וֹעַ וְהִלַּלְתֶּ֗ם אֶת־שֵׁ֤ם יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה עִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַפְלִ֑יא וְלֹא־יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ עַמִּ֖י לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (כז) וִידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֣י בְקֶ֤רֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אָ֔נִי וַאֲנִ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם וְאֵ֣ין ע֑וֹד וְלֹא־יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ עַמִּ֖י לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (ס)
(12) “Yet even now”—says YHWH— “Turn back to me with all your hearts, And with fasting, weeping, and lamenting!"
(13) Rend your hearts rather than your garments, And turn back to YHWH your elohim. For he is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in kindness, And renouncing punishment.
...
(15) Blow a horn in Zion! Solemnize a fast, Proclaim an assembly! (16) Gather the people, Bid the congregation purify themselves. Bring together the old, Gather the babes And the sucklings at the breast; Let the bridegroom come out of his chamber, The bride from her canopied couch!
(18) Then YHWH was roused on behalf of his land And had compassion Upon his people.
...
(26) And you shall eat your fill And praise the name of YHWH your elohim who dealt so wondrously with you— My people shall be shamed no more. (27) And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: That I YHWH am your elohim and there is no other. And my people shall be shamed no more.”
Discussion Questions
- What are the differences between Yoel's instructions and the priests above? Anything surprising?
- In light of question 1, can you hone in on any possible underlying differences in their understanding of the Almighty?
- Which view do you prefer? (Which speaks to you more? Which might work better for your own personal life?)
- Look at the three highlighted words in the beginning of Yoel's oracle. What are these words? Do they sound like any other Hebrew words you know?
Let's look at one more passage together. This one, like Yoel, is a prophetic declaration. We do not know the prophet's name, but since his oracles are included in the scroll of a prophet named Isaiah, many people call him Deutero-Isaiah, which means "second"-Isaiah. I prefer to refer to him as the Herald, because "herald of Zion" is a term he likes to use.
You'll probably notice that our Herald is trying to get the point across that the Almighty is not too happy about something. What is it? And how does this compare with some of what we saw above?
(א) קְרָ֤א בְגָרוֹן֙ אַל־תַּחְשֹׂ֔ךְ כַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר הָרֵ֣ם קוֹלֶ֑ךָ וְהַגֵּ֤ד לְעַמִּי֙ פִּשְׁעָ֔ם וּלְבֵ֥ית יַעֲקֹ֖ב חַטֹּאתָֽם׃ (ב) וְאוֹתִ֗י י֥וֹם יוֹם֙ יִדְרֹשׁ֔וּן וְדַ֥עַת דְּרָכַ֖י יֶחְפָּצ֑וּן כְּג֞וֹי אֲשֶׁר־צְדָקָ֣ה עָשָׂ֗ה וּמִשְׁפַּ֤ט אֱלֹהָיו֙ לֹ֣א עָזָ֔ב יִשְׁאָל֙וּנִי֙ מִשְׁפְּטֵי־צֶ֔דֶק קִרְבַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים יֶחְפָּצֽוּן׃ (ג) לָ֤מָּה צַּ֙מְנוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א רָאִ֔יתָ עִנִּ֥ינוּ נַפְשֵׁ֖נוּ וְלֹ֣א תֵדָ֑ע הֵ֣ן בְּי֤וֹם צֹֽמְכֶם֙ תִּמְצְאוּ־חֵ֔פֶץ וְכָל־עַצְּבֵיכֶ֖ם תִּנְגֹּֽשׂוּ׃ (ד) הֵ֣ן לְרִ֤יב וּמַצָּה֙ תָּצ֔וּמוּ וּלְהַכּ֖וֹת בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־תָצ֣וּמוּ כַיּ֔וֹם לְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַ בַּמָּר֖וֹם קוֹלְכֶֽם׃ (ה) הֲכָזֶ֗ה יִֽהְיֶה֙ צ֣וֹם אֶבְחָרֵ֔הוּ י֛וֹם עַנּ֥וֹת אָדָ֖ם נַפְשׁ֑וֹ הֲלָכֹ֨ף כְּאַגְמֹ֜ן רֹאשׁ֗וֹ וְשַׂ֤ק וָאֵ֙פֶר֙ יַצִּ֔יעַ הֲלָזֶה֙ תִּקְרָא־צ֔וֹם וְי֥וֹם רָצ֖וֹן לַיהוָֽה׃ (ו) הֲל֣וֹא זֶה֮ צ֣וֹם אֶבְחָרֵהוּ֒ פַּתֵּ֙חַ֙ חַרְצֻבּ֣וֹת רֶ֔שַׁע הַתֵּ֖ר אֲגֻדּ֣וֹת מוֹטָ֑ה וְשַׁלַּ֤ח רְצוּצִים֙ חָפְשִׁ֔ים וְכָל־מוֹטָ֖ה תְּנַתֵּֽקוּ׃ (ז) הֲל֨וֹא פָרֹ֤ס לָֽרָעֵב֙ לַחְמֶ֔ךָ וַעֲנִיִּ֥ים מְרוּדִ֖ים תָּ֣בִיא בָ֑יִת כִּֽי־תִרְאֶ֤ה עָרֹם֙ וְכִסִּית֔וֹ וּמִבְּשָׂרְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִתְעַלָּֽם׃
Isa 58:1-14 GNB
"Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins! (2) They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just laws and that they take pleasure in worshiping me."
(3) The people ask, "Why should we fast if you never notice? Why should we go without food if you don't pay attention?"
He answers them; "The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers!
(4) Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers?
(5) When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?
(6) "The kind of fasting I want is this:
Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. (7) Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.
Personally, I find this to be such an incredible passage. How about you? What do you think, in light of Yoel and Leviticus above?
Can you think of any situations today in which the Herald's critiques are applicable? How about in your own life?
In the rest of the chapter, the Herald tells us what we have to look forward to if we are successful in all of the above, painting a beautiful picture of what the relationship between the Almighty and Israel could look like after a successful atonement process.
(ח) אָ֣ז יִבָּקַ֤ע כַּשַּׁ֙חַר֙ אוֹרֶ֔ךָ וַאֲרֻכָתְךָ֖ מְהֵרָ֣ה תִצְמָ֑ח וְהָלַ֤ךְ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ צִדְקֶ֔ךָ כְּב֥וֹד יְהוָ֖ה יַאַסְפֶֽךָ׃ (ט) אָ֤ז תִּקְרָא֙ וַיהוָ֣ה יַעֲנֶ֔ה תְּשַׁוַּ֖ע וְיֹאמַ֣ר הִנֵּ֑נִי אִם־תָּסִ֤יר מִתּֽוֹכְךָ֙ מוֹטָ֔ה שְׁלַ֥ח אֶצְבַּ֖ע וְדַבֶּר־אָֽוֶן׃ (י) וְתָפֵ֤ק לָֽרָעֵב֙ נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ נַעֲנָ֖ה תַּשְׂבִּ֑יעַ וְזָרַ֤ח בַּחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ אוֹרֶ֔ךָ וַאֲפֵלָתְךָ֖ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ (יא) וְנָחֲךָ֣ יְהוָה֮ תָּמִיד֒ וְהִשְׂבִּ֤יעַ בְּצַחְצָחוֹת֙ נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ וְעַצְמֹתֶ֖יךָ יַחֲלִ֑יץ וְהָיִ֙יתָ֙ כְּגַ֣ן רָוֶ֔ה וּכְמוֹצָ֣א מַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יְכַזְּב֖וּ מֵימָֽיו׃ (יב) וּבָנ֤וּ מִמְּךָ֙ חָרְב֣וֹת עוֹלָ֔ם מוֹסְדֵ֥י דוֹר־וָד֖וֹר תְּקוֹמֵ֑ם וְקֹרָ֤א לְךָ֙ גֹּדֵ֣ר פֶּ֔רֶץ מְשֹׁבֵ֥ב נְתִיב֖וֹת לָשָֽׁבֶת׃ (יג) אִם־תָּשִׁ֤יב מִשַּׁבָּת֙ רַגְלֶ֔ךָ עֲשׂ֥וֹת חֲפָצֶ֖יךָ בְּי֣וֹם קָדְשִׁ֑י וְקָרָ֨אתָ לַשַּׁבָּ֜ת עֹ֗נֶג לִקְד֤וֹשׁ יְהוָה֙ מְכֻבָּ֔ד וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙ מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת דְּרָכֶ֔יךָ מִמְּצ֥וֹא חֶפְצְךָ֖ וְדַבֵּ֥ר דָּבָֽר׃ (יד) אָ֗ז תִּתְעַנַּג֙ עַל־יְהוָ֔ה וְהִרְכַּבְתִּ֖יךָ עַל־בָּ֣מֳותֵי אָ֑רֶץ וְהַאֲכַלְתִּ֗יךָ נַחֲלַת֙ יַעֲקֹ֣ב אָבִ֔יךָ כִּ֛י פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃ (ס)
(8) "Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed.
I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side.
(9) When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. "If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; (10) if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.
(11) And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry. (12) Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses."
Wow, how fortunate we would be were we to really take the Herald's words to heart, dedicating ourselves to becoming what the Almighty wants and knows we could be, and experiencing intimate closeness with him in our lives!
Tonight is the tenth day of the seventh month; I.e., Yom haKippurim! While it's true that fasting is a bit part of the day; It is not what the day is about; It is a day about relationship; a day for us reflect on ourselves and our lives, and to explore what we ought to change so as to bring ourselves closer to relationship with the Almighty.
So here's a question I'd like to invite you to think about throughout Yom haKippurim, in light of our three readings above; What changes can you make so as to come even just a little bit closer to living a lifestyle that the Almighty will look at and think; Wow, now there is a person I want to walk and spend time with!
May you have a deeply meaningful, spiritually uplifting and rejuvenating Yom haKippurim! May YHWH-Almighty shine his face upon you and be gracious to you, and may you merit to experience the blessing of the Almighty's presence in your life!