Yom Kippur The Day Of Atonement

Revision of the author's thesis (Ph. D.)--Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 2002.

The “Day of Atonement” in Leviticus 16 had a formative influence on Judaism and Christianity. The essays in this volume form a representative cross section of the history of reception of Leviticus 16 and the tradition of the Yom ha-Kippurim.

Yom Kippur (Hebrew for the Day of Atonement) is one of the Moadim, one of the Appointed Times of the Lord that, in the Bible, He commanded Israel to keep. It is an "appointment" set by the Lord. When someone makes an appointment, they have a reason. As author Rabbi Jim says, "If someone in my congregation makes an appointment with me, they wouldn't like it if I controlled the whole time and never asked them what they wanted to see me about." God has set the agenda for Yom Kippur, and we need to find out what it all is." To Jewish people, Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the whole year. It is the holiest of the autumn High Holy Days, a very serious, somber, sacred day. In the Bible, Yom Kippur is the day the Cohane HaGadol (High Priest) entered the Most Holy Place, also called the Holy of Holies, taking the blood of the sacrificed animals and sprinkling it on the Mercy Seat to make atonement for the sins of the people. Also he had to cast lots over two goats, one to be chosen as the scapegoat and the other to be sacrificed. But since 70 AD after the Temple was destroyed, none of that can be done anymore. So how do traditional and Messianic Jewish people observe this day today? And what agenda did God have in mind for this day for these End Times? What power does it hold for your personal walk of faith and for spiritual warfare? You might be surprised.

Despite their best intentions, people are imperfect and will inevitably make mistakes. They yearn for a chance to start over, to right wrongs, and to create a better future by improving upon the past. Several religious holidays around the world are devoted to this task. These observances allow individuals to reflect on their errors and make amends with those they have wronged. Lent, Yom Kippur, and Other Atonement Days focuses on the observation of Lent in the Christian tradition, the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur, and Vassa, the Buddhist practice also known as the Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent. The Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist days of atonement vary greatly in beliefs and customs across different regions, but each has the ultimate goal of the practitioners bettering themselves through prayer, humility, and repentance.

Yom Kippur (Hebrew for the Day of Atonement) is one of the Moadim, one of the Appointed Times of the Lord that, in the Bible, He commanded Israel to keep. It is an "appointment" set by the Lord. When someone makes an appointment, they have a reason. As author Rabbi Jim says, "If someone in my congregation makes an appointment with me, they wouldn't like it if I controlled the whole time and never asked them what they wanted to see me about." God has set the agenda for Yom Kippur, and we need to find out what it all is." To Jewish people, Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the whole year. It is the holiest of the autumn High Holy Days, a very serious, somber, sacred day. In the Bible, Yom Kippur is the day the Cohane HaGadol (High Priest) entered the Most Holy Place, also called the Holy of Holies, taking the blood of the sacrificed animals and sprinkling it on the Mercy Seat to make atonement for the sins of the people. Also he had to cast lots over two goats, one to be chosen as the scapegoat and the other to be sacrificed. But since 70 AD after the Temple was destroyed, none of that can be done anymore. So how do traditional and Messianic Jewish people observe this day today? And what agenda did God have in mind for this day for these End Times? What power does it hold for your personal walk of faith and for spiritual warfare? You might be surprised.

Understanding the purpose and traditions of the Jewish feasts will give you a deeper appreciation for your God, your heritage, and the gift of redemption provided by the sacrificial death of Christ. The Fall Feasts of Israel will help you understand three of Israel's most significant festivals: Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. A complete examination of each feast includes a look at its biblical institution, its celebration in the time of Christ, and its observances by Jews today. "The feasts and laws of the Lord were a tutor to lead the Israelites to the Savior...the festivals find their fulfillment in Christ and His New Covenant." This book will give you insight into what God originally intended for the sacrificial offerings.

A collection of readings for anyone seeking a deeper level of personal reflection and spiritual intimacy during Yom Kippur--and a clearer understanding of just what makes this day so holy.

There are times in life when we are caught utterly unprepared: a death in the family, the end of a relationship, a health crisis. These are the times when the solid ground we thought we stood on disappears beneath our feet, leaving us reeling and heartbroken, as we stumble back to our faith. The Days of Awe encompass the weeks preceding Rosh Hashanah up to Yom Kippur, a period in which Jews take part in a series of rituals and prayers that reenact the journey of the soul through the world from birth to death. This is a period of contemplation and repentance, comparable to Lent and Ramadan. Yet, for Rabbi Alan Lew, the real purpose of this annual passage is for us to experience brokenheartedness and open our heart to God. In This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared, Lew has marked out a journey of seven distinct stages, one that draws on these rituals to awaken our soul and wholly transform us. Weaving together Torah readings, Buddhist parables, Jewish fables and stories from his own life, Lew lays bare the meanings of this ancient Jewish passage. He reveals the path from terror to acceptance, confusion to clarity, doubt to belief, and from complacency to awe. In the tradition of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, This Is Real And You Are Completely Unprepared enables believers of all faiths to reconnect to their faith with a passion and intimacy that will resonate throughout the year.