“G-d’s Gift to His People on Yom Kippur”
(updated and revised from Yom Kippur 5765-2004)

 by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

Because of the observance of Yom Kippur, the final weekly Torah portion-V’zot Ha’bracha, is not read. Instead, the Yom Kippur Torah reading is a selection from Leviticus 16:1-34, a portion that describes the ancient “scapegoat” ritual that was a main feature of the Yom Kippur service in the Temple.

Following this Torah reading regarding the scapegoat from parashat Acharei Mot, Leviticus 16:1-34, the maftir (the concluding Torah reading) is read from parashat Pinchas, Numbers 29:7-11. The maftir reading begins with the following words: וּבֶעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַזֶּה, מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם, וְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם, כָּל מְלָאכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ, On the tenth day of the seventh month, there shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall afflict yourselves; you shall not do any work.

The Torah then proceeds to describe the various offerings that were brought in the ancient Temple on Yom Kippur. However, the Torah does not clarify what exactly it means when it states, “and you shall afflict yourselves.” Our rabbis conclude that this phrase connotes not only fasting, abstaining from food and water, but also implies self-denial. Consequently, washing and anointing the body is prohibited, as is wearing leather shoes. Having sexual relations on Yom Kippur is also proscribed.

If one were to read only the description of Yom Kippur found in Numbers 29, only an incomplete picture would be portrayed, one that fails to reveal the beauty and majesty of the Yom Kippur day. It is only in parashat Acharei Mot, in Leviticus 16, that the blanks are filled in, and the full essence of Yom Kippur is fully revealed. It is there that the Torah describes the Avodah–the impressive priestly service that takes place on Yom Kippur. Two goats are presented. By lottery, one goat, randomly designated for G-d, is slaughtered and offered as a sacrifice in the Temple, while the other is fated for עֲזָאזֵל–ah’zah’zayl and is sent into the wilderness, to die.

The Torah also goes into a lengthy description of how the High Priest maintains his sanctity on Yom Kippur, changing his clothes five times, and bathing ten times. All this is done in preparation for the key role that the High Priest–the Cohen Gadol, plays in achieving atonement for the Jewish people.

The description of the Yom Kippur service in Leviticus closes with a most beautiful and significant verse, Leviticus 16:30: כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם, לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם, מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם, לִפְנֵי השׁם, תִּטְהָרוּ, For on this day, G-d shall provide atonement for you, to cleanse you from all your sins, before the L-rd, you shall be cleansed.

Rabbeinu Yona of Gerondi was the author of a classical work on repentance known as Sha’arei Teshuva (“Gates of Repentance”). In this volume, Rabbeinu Yona underscores the magnificence of the concept of תְּשׁוּבָה—Teshuva, and how great a gift it is from the Al-mighty to His people.

Normally when a person commits a trespass, the violator is held accountable and is expected to pay a price, to suffer a financial loss, a physical loss, flogging, or a loss of independence by being sent to prison. And yet, maintains Rabbeinu Yona, through Teshuva, the sin of the trespasser is completely erased. The Al-mighty, in effect, says to the violator: “You’ve robbed the ‘Divine bank,’ you’ve defiled the ‘Divine home’–nevertheless, you can be forgiven! In fact, I’m not even asking you to return the stolen goods or to repair the defiled home, all you need do is to be truly contrite, to give your heart and your soul to G-d in true repentance!”

Can we possibly imagine such a “penal system” working? Under normal circumstances, would it make sense to say to a bank robber or a house destroyer, “You’re forgiven! Have no fear, you need not restore the looted money or rebuild the home, you don’t have to spend time in prison, and you will not even suffer lashes? If you simply return to the L-rd, your G-d, with all your heart and all your soul, your slate will be wiped clean, and all will be forgiven!”

This is what is meant, when we repeatedly beseech of G-d in our Yom Kippur prayers to “erase” our sins, as if there were no sign that there ever was sin.

All of this underscores G-d’s wondrous qualities of mercy. The Al-mighty well understands that those who are truly contrite are frequently overwhelmed by what they have done. They often despair of ever being able to return, because they feel, as Cain said to G-d, Genesis 4:13, גָּדוֹל עֲוֺנִי מִנְּשֹׂא, “My sin is too great for me to bear. It is crushing me and pushing me down into oblivion.” The Al-mighty in response, says to the sinner, “I will wipe your slate clean. In fact, there will be no sign that you have ever sinned or trespassed.”

What a wonderful gift this is. It is almost too good to be true, and, in a sense, it is too good to be true!

Who truly merits to receive this incredible gift of retroactive forgiveness? Only those who possess a broken heart, only those who feel as if they have disappointed and failed their best friend.

That is why Yom Kippur is truly a day of joy, because it is a day in which every Jew receives a most precious gift, a gift that is totally undeserved and so unexpected. It is an exoneration based entirely on G-d’s love, it is a forgiveness due to G-d’s passionate caring and concern.

That is what the gift of Teshuva is on Yom Kippur. Let us hope that we merit it.

Have a meaningful Yom Kippur.

May you be blessed.

This year, Yom Kippur will be observed from late afternoon on Friday, October 11th, through nightfall on Saturday, October 12th.