{"id":10226,"date":"2014-05-06T00:03:43","date_gmt":"2014-05-05T21:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=10226"},"modified":"2020-09-15T11:44:04","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T08:44:04","slug":"15-06-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/15-06-03\/","title":{"rendered":"03. The Atonement of Yom Kippur"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Biblical Hebrew, the Day of Atonement is called \u201cYom Ha-kippurim<\/em>\u201d; colloquially, we call it \u201cYom Kippur.\u201d The root of \u201ckippurim<\/em>,\u201d K-P-R<\/em>, has many meanings, all of which are relevant to Yom Kippur. First, \u201ckapara<\/em>\u201d can indicate covering. This was the function of the kaporet<\/em>, the lid that covered the ark in the Temple; likewise, kapara <\/em>covers up sins. A second meaning of \u201ckapara<\/em>\u201d is an exchange or ransom (kofer<\/em>). Sin, which originates in impure forces, is \u201cexchanged\u201d and returned to its place via the goat of Azazel. Third, \u201ckapara<\/em>\u201d can mean cleansing or wiping clean. Atonement wipes us clean of the foulness of sin. Fourth, \u201ckapara<\/em>\u201d can indicate neutralization or renouncement. As Yaakov says, \u201cI will neutralize (akhapra<\/em>) [Esav\u2019s anger]\u201d (Bereishit 32:21); Yaakov sought to counter Esav\u2019s wrath with gifts (Rashi ad loc<\/em>.). Fifth, \u201ckapara<\/em>\u201d indicates appeasement. Neutralizing a sin can appease an injured party or heavenly accuser. (See Rashi, Mishlei 16:14.) Finally, \u201ckapara<\/em>\u201d can connote fragrance, as one might understand the phrase \u201ceshkol ha-kofer<\/em>\u201d (Shir Ha-shirim 1:14) to mean \u201ca spray of fragrant blooms.\u201d So too, repentance out of love transforms unknowing sins into merits, releasing a pleasant scent.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the verse, \u201cDays will be created, and one of them will be His\u201d (Tehilim 139:16), our Sages suggest that \u201cone of them\u201d refers to Yom Kippur, the most unique day of the year:<\/p>\n

For it is a happy time for God, Whose word brought the world into being, Who lovingly gave [Yom Kippur] to the Jewish people. This can be compared to a king of flesh and blood whose servants and household members collected the palace garbage and threw it in front of his doorway (in order to remove it from the city). When the king saw the garbage, it made him very happy. Similarly, God gave Yom Kippur to the Jews out of love and with great joy\u2026. When He forgives the sins of Israel, He is not sad, but rather very happy. He tells the mountains and hills, the rivers and valleys: \u201cCelebrate with Me! Let all rejoice, for I am forgiving Israel\u2019s sins!\u201d (Tanna De-vei Eliyahu Rabba<\/em> 1)<\/p>\n

Our Sages tell us that Yom Kippur\u2019s special power is hinted at in the name of the accusing angel \u2013 ha-satan<\/em> \u2013 whose name has the numerical value of 364. For 364 days of the year, the prosecuting angel is permitted to block the divine light from manifesting in the world and to prosecute the Jewish people. But a year has 365 days, so there is one day a year on which the satan <\/em>may not prosecute Israel: Yom Kippur, when root of the sanctity of Israel, connected with God, is revealed (Yoma<\/em> 20a). Had God not established a day of atonement and forgiveness, sins would accumulate year after year. Eventually, Israel and the whole world would deserve destruction. (See Sefer Ha-\u1e25inukh <\/em>\u00a7185.)<\/p>\n

The entire day of Yom Kippur atones. Therefore, even if someone dies during Yom Kippur, his sins are forgiven (Keritot<\/em> 7a). However, atonement is completed at the end of Yom Kippur, when the fast reaches its peak and all the prayers and meditations of Yom Kippur merge together (y. Yoma<\/em> 4:7). This accounts for the intensity of Ne\u2019ila<\/em>, the closing prayer.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n[1]<\/a>. Keritot<\/em> 7a explains that each and every hour of Yom Kippur atones. Rashba, Rash Mi-Shantz, and Gevurat Ari<\/em> all cite this. According to Keritot<\/em> 7a and Shevu\u2019ot <\/em>13a, the atonement is limited to the daytime. Rashi explains that this is derived from the verse, \u201cFor on this day<\/strong> atonement shall be made for you\u201d (Vayikra 16:30). Additionally, the fast is not really felt at night. In contrast, the Yerushalmi (Yoma<\/em> 8:7) records two other opinions: R. Zeira says that from the start of Yom Kippur at night, every single minute atones, and R. \u1e24ananya maintains that atonement is achieved at the end of the day. Even according to R. \u1e24ananya, though, when the scapegoat was cast into the wilderness during Temple times, it atoned even though it was cast off before day\u2019s end. The Yerushalmi\u2019s conclusion is in accordance with R. \u1e24ananya; Ramban and Ran write this as well. Since we are speaking of spiritual matters (which do not require specific actions to be taken), we can easily apply the principle that \u201cthese and those are the words of the living God\u201d and harmonize the different opinions by saying that there are different stages of atonement. At night, the process of atonement begins, as preparations are undertaken for it. The atonement takes place primarily during the day. With each passing hour, the atonement intensifies. It is completed at the end of the day, when the fast is at its peak. Itur<\/em> states this explicitly, saying that the whole day atones, but the completion of the atonement is achieved during Ne\u2019ila<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Biblical Hebrew, the Day of Atonement is called \u201cYom Ha-kippurim\u201d; colloquially, we call it \u201cYom Kippur.\u201d The root of \u201ckippurim,\u201d K-P-R, has many meanings, all of which are relevant to Yom Kippur. First, \u201ckapara\u201d can indicate covering. This was the function of the kaporet, the lid that covered the ark in the Temple; likewise, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[189],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-15-06"],"yoast_head":"\n03. 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