Shabbat Shalom. Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism begins tonight
7:41 AM (19 minutes ago)
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Jerusalem
Shabbat shalom!
Today is Erev Yom Kippur, the eve
of the Day of Atonement, which is,
Biblically speaking, the holiest day of the year.
Blowing the shofar
By mid-afternoon, all the businesses and shops will be
Blowing the shofar
By mid-afternoon, all the businesses and shops will be
closed, not even one gas station will be open.
By nightfall, there will not be a car on the street.
All that will be playing on the television tonight will
By nightfall, there will not be a car on the street.
All that will be playing on the television tonight will
be a still photo of a shofar calling the people of
Israel to fast and pray. Even Jewish radio stations
will be shut down.
If Christians unfamiliar with Yom Kippur were
If Christians unfamiliar with Yom Kippur were
here in Israel for the first time, they might think
that the Rapture had taken place and that they
were left behind.
The streets of Tel Aviv, the city that never sleeps,
The streets of Tel Aviv, the city that never sleeps,
are deserted on Yom Kippur. Throughout Israel the streets
are empty of cars.
Tonight as the sun sets, the Jewish People here in Israel
Tonight as the sun sets, the Jewish People here in Israel
and all around the world will attend their local synagogue.
With its themes of atonement and repentance, the tenth
With its themes of atonement and repentance, the tenth
of Tishri is so significant that it’s observed by many
secular Jews who don’t observe other Jewish holidays.
“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month,
“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month,
on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls,
and shall do no kind of work, the native-born, or the
stranger who lives as a foreigner among you.” (Leviticus 16:29)
The month of Tishri is the seventh month on the Jewish
The month of Tishri is the seventh month on the Jewish
calendar—the month we add another number to the
year (we are now in the year 5774) and the month
we make atonement for sin.
Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur,
by Maurycy Gottlieb, 1878.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Leviticus 16:1–34; Isaiah 57:14–58:14
Yom Kippur is a solemn fast day.
Because of that, all kinds of preparations are
Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur,
by Maurycy Gottlieb, 1878.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Leviticus 16:1–34; Isaiah 57:14–58:14
Yom Kippur is a solemn fast day.
Because of that, all kinds of preparations are
underway during the day in order to keep
Yom Kippur properly, including two festive
meals today.
On Yom Kippur, for nearly 26 hours, we
On Yom Kippur, for nearly 26 hours, we
“afflict our souls” in the following five ways:
We don’t eat or drink;
We don’t wash;
We don’t use lotions or perfumes;
We don’t wear leather footwear; and
We abstain from marital relations.
Despite this afflicting of ourselves, the
We don’t eat or drink;
We don’t wash;
We don’t use lotions or perfumes;
We don’t wear leather footwear; and
We abstain from marital relations.
Despite this afflicting of ourselves, the
observance of Yom Kippur is characterized
by a sense of peace because of our
confidence in our relationship with God
and His provision for atonement.
The beautiful Hebrew calligraphy of Kol Nidre in the Machzor
Worms, which is one of the oldest ritual festival prayer books
in existence. It was used by the Jewish community of Worms,
Germany from 1272 until the synagogue’s destruction on
Kristallnacht, November 1938.
Before the sun sets tonight, the Jewish People will
The beautiful Hebrew calligraphy of Kol Nidre in the Machzor
Worms, which is one of the oldest ritual festival prayer books
in existence. It was used by the Jewish community of Worms,
Germany from 1272 until the synagogue’s destruction on
Kristallnacht, November 1938.
Before the sun sets tonight, the Jewish People will
gather in their synagogues to hear the cantor chant
Kol Nidre (All Vows) and recite penitential
prayers from a special prayer book called
the Machzor.
Tomorrow morning, we will return to our
Tomorrow morning, we will return to our
synagogues for the Shabbat service.
During the afternoon service, the entire
During the afternoon service, the entire
Book of Jonah will be read.
This service concludes shortly before sunset
This service concludes shortly before sunset
with the Ne’ila (Closing of the Gates)prayer,
which is the last moment for repenting before
God seals His judgments in His Book.
Yom Kippur will end at nightfall tomorrow
Yom Kippur will end at nightfall tomorrow
with the blowing of the shofar, and we will
return home to enjoy a festive meal. Tomorrow
night, many of us will also begin building our
Sukkah for the holiday of Sukkot, which
begins next Wednesday night.
Orthodox Jewish man praying Selichot, Jewish
Orthodox Jewish man praying Selichot, Jewish
penitential prayersand poems, in preparation
for Yom Kippur, at the Western (Wailing) Wall
in Jerusalem.
Making Atonement During Temple Times
“Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come
Making Atonement During Temple Times
“Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come
whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place
behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover
on the ark, or else he will die.” (Leviticus 16:2)
Yom Kippur was the one day in the year that the
Yom Kippur was the one day in the year that the
Cohen HaGadol (High Priest)could enter the
Holy of Holies to make atonement for the
nation of Israel.
In order to minister before the Lord on this
In order to minister before the Lord on this
holy day, the priest first bathed in water
(immersed himself in the mikvah) and then
put on a special linen tunic.
In the Holy of Holies, the high priest was
In the Holy of Holies, the high priest was
not to wear his usual golden garments,
designed for splendor and beauty; instead,
he was to wear simple, white linen clothing
that represented purity and humility, which
befits this most sacred of all days.
Many Jewish men wear a kittel,
Many Jewish men wear a kittel,
a white robe-like garment, for evening prayers
on Yom Kippur. It is also worn on
their wedding day.
Wearing White on Yom Kippur
Tonight and tomorrow, many religiously observant
Wearing White on Yom Kippur
Tonight and tomorrow, many religiously observant
Jewish men dress in simple, white linen when
attending Yom Kippur services. They also wear
rubber soled sneakers instead of leather shoes,
in remembrance of Yom Kippur’s animal sacrifice.
And women will wear elegant dresses
And women will wear elegant dresses
while wearing canvas running shoes.
The rabbis give another reason for wearing
The rabbis give another reason for wearing
white on this holy day. Israel comes before
God, not in drab clothing like a penitent sinner,
but arrayed in white as if going to a feast,
confident that they will be pardoned as they
come in sincere repentance.
In the Book of Revelation, we see a connection
In the Book of Revelation, we see a connection
to the tradition of wearing white and the Book of Life:
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white
garments, and I will not blot out his name from
the Book of Life, but I will confess his name
before My Father and before His angels.”
(Revelation 3:5)
Kapparot is a ritual some Jews perform
Kapparot is a ritual some Jews perform
before Yom Kippur, where a chicken is
waved over the head three times in order
to symbolically transfer one's sins to the chicken.
The chicken is then slaughtered and donated to the poor.
Since the Holy Temple is no longer standing and no
Since the Holy Temple is no longer standing and no
sacrifices for sin can be offered, those who know
Yeshua (Jesus) can trust in the sacrifice that He
made for our atonement.
However, about 99% of the Jewish people today
However, about 99% of the Jewish people today
do not believe that Yeshua is the Messiah.
With no Temple in Jerusalem for the past 2000 years,
With no Temple in Jerusalem for the past 2000 years,
they have replaced the animal blood sacrifice
with prayer (tefilah), repentance (teshuvah), and
charity or good deeds (tzedakah).
Perhaps we have to give credit to the
Perhaps we have to give credit to the
Ultra-Orthodox Jews who perform a
ceremony called kapparot where one's sin
is placed upon a sacrificial chicken before
it gets slaughtered. In this ritual, at least
the need for a blood sacrifice is still acknowledged,
even though a chicken is not the animal prescribed
in the Torah for sacrifice.
And as we are now in the End Times, maybe this
And as we are now in the End Times, maybe this
sacrifice will make it easier for these
Ultra-Orthodox Jews to recognize the atoning
sacrifice Yeshua accomplished on our behalf
as the Messiah.
The Nubian ibex is a desert-dwelling goat
The Nubian ibex is a desert-dwelling goat
species found in Israel.
The Azazel
"But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be
The Azazel
"But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be
presented alive before the Lord to be used for
making atonement by sending it into the desert as
a scapegoat." (Leviticus 16:10)
On Yom Kippur, the High Priests cast lots for two goats.
One was offered as the sacrifice, but the other
On Yom Kippur, the High Priests cast lots for two goats.
One was offered as the sacrifice, but the other
goat was chosen as the Azazel (the scapegoat).
Azazel is a very special Hebrew noun meaning
Azazel is a very special Hebrew noun meaning
dismissal or entire removal.
The entire removal of the sin and guilt of Israel
The entire removal of the sin and guilt of Israel
is symbolized by the High Priest laying both
his hands on the head of this live goat, confessing
over it all the transgressions of the children of Israel.
The goat would then be released into the wilderness,
The goat would then be released into the wilderness,
thus physically carrying the burden of Israel’s sin
into the wilderness.
The Golden Gate, which is called
The Golden Gate, which is called
Sha'ar Harachamim (Gate of Mercy)in Hebrew,
is located on the eastern side of the Temple Mount. It's
thought that the Azazel was led through this
thought that the Azazel was led through this
gate to the wilderness. It's also thought that Messiah
will come through this gate. Suleiman wanted to
prevent this and had the gate sealed in 1541. A Muslim
cemetery was placed in front of it to defile the area.
The Azazel and Messiah Yeshua
“He is to lay both hands on the head of the
cemetery was placed in front of it to defile the area.
The Azazel and Messiah Yeshua
“He is to lay both hands on the head of the
live goat and confess over it all the wickedness
and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and
put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat
away into the wilderness in the care of someone
appointed for the task. The goat will carry on
itself all their sins to a remote place; and the
man shall release it in the wilderness.”
(Leviticus 16:21–22)
There are striking similarities between
There are striking similarities between
Leviticus 16:21–22 and Isaiah 53:
"And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity
"And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity
of us all… For He shall bear their iniquities."
(Isaiah 53:6, 11)
Rabbis of ancient times viewed Isaiah 53
Rabbis of ancient times viewed Isaiah 53
as a Messianic prophecy. Most agreed
that it speaks of the Messiah of Israel.
This Messianic prophecy has been effectively
This Messianic prophecy has been effectively
hidden from most Jewish people, even those
who faithfully attend synagogue services, by
omitting the entire chapter from the proscribed
selection of Sabbath readings.
Why? Because these verses so perfectly
Why? Because these verses so perfectly
describe the atonement Yeshua made for us
through the sacrifice of His own life as
the Suffering Servant.
This is why we so desperately need to
This is why we so desperately need to
make the Messianic Prophecy Bible
Isaiah 53 proposes that this passage does not
speak of the Messiah but of the nation of Israel.
This interpretation seems to have gained
This interpretation seems to have gained
serious adherents only in the 13th century.
It is, in truth, a complete lie that is promoted
It is, in truth, a complete lie that is promoted
throughout the Jewish community to blind
Jewish people from seeing that Isaiah 53
perfectly describes Yeshua who
suffered for our sins.
Not all rabbis have agreed with this willfully
Not all rabbis have agreed with this willfully
wrong interpretation. In a strongly worded
14th century commentary,
Rabbi Moshe Kohen ibn Crispin
responded to this theory:
“[In contrast to those] having inclined after
“[In contrast to those] having inclined after
the stubbornness of their own hearts and
their own opinion, I am pleased to interpret
the parasha [Isaiah 53] in accordance with
the teachings of our rabbis, of the King Messiah
… and adhere to the literal sense. Thus I shall
be free from forced and far-fetched
interpretations of which others are guilty.”
Moses Alshech, a 16th century rabbi,
Moses Alshech, a 16th century rabbi,
preacher, and Bible commentator, ignores
the possibility that Isaiah 53 refers to the
nation of Israel.
He said, “Our rabbis with one voice accept
He said, “Our rabbis with one voice accept
and affirm the opinion that the prophet [Isaiah]
is here [chapter 53] speaking of the Messiah.”
This Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book) is resting
This Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book) is resting
on a table at the Western Wall adorned with a
velvet tablecloth that is embroidered with an image
of the Second Temple. The fringed garment is a
folded tallit (prayer shawl).
Numerous Rabbinic commentators do, in fact, take
Numerous Rabbinic commentators do, in fact, take
for granted that Isaiah 52:13–53:12 refers to the Messiah.
The following quotes are gleaned from traditional
The following quotes are gleaned from traditional
rabbinic sources, such as the Talmud (oral law):
“He, Messiah, shall intercede for man’s sins,
“He, Messiah, shall intercede for man’s sins,
and the rebellious, for his sake, shall be forgiven.”
(Jerusalem Targum on Isaiah 53:12)
“And when Israel is sinful, the Messiah seeks for
“And when Israel is sinful, the Messiah seeks for
mercy upon them as it is written, ‘By his stripes
we were healed,’ and ‘he carried the sin of many
and made intercession for the transgressors.’”
(Genesis Rabbah on Isaiah 53:5, 12).
In a limited sense, however, the claims that Israel
In a limited sense, however, the claims that Israel
has suffered as an azazel or "scapegoat" for the
nations is true. Yet, Israel is not able to justify and
bear the iniquities of its own people (Isaiah 53:11).
The Messiah did that when the Lord crushed Him
and made Him an offering for sin (v. 10).
On the execution stake, "His appearance was
On the execution stake, "His appearance was
disfigured beyond that of any human being and
His form marred beyond human likeness." (Isaiah 52:14)
And although the Jewish People have not seen
And although the Jewish People have not seen
that Yeshua fulfilled the many prophecies of Isaiah
and other prophets, this blindness is only temporary,
and will soon come to an end:
"For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be
"For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be
ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise
in your own opinion, that blindness in part has
happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles
has come in… and so all Israel shall be saved."
(Romans 11:25–26)
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak
comforts a bereaved mother at a memorial service
for soldiers who died in the Yom Kippur War, when
Israel's Arab neighbors invaded Israel on the
Israel's Arab neighbors invaded Israel on the
holiest day of the Jewish calendar, in 1973,
while the nation was fasting and in prayer.
A Lasting Atonement
"And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity [avon]
A Lasting Atonement
"And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity [avon]
of us all." (Isaiah 53:6)
In Hebrew, the word iniquity is avon.
This word differs from the Hebrew word for
In Hebrew, the word iniquity is avon.
This word differs from the Hebrew word for
sin which means to fall short and miss the mark
as this word is rooted in the Hebrew verb avah
meaning to twist and to distort.
It signifies an inner crookedness or spiritual state
It signifies an inner crookedness or spiritual state
of being bent—in other wordsperversity, as well
as a willful departure from the law (Torah) of God.
Ordinarily, while the sacrifices were limited to
Ordinarily, while the sacrifices were limited to
atoning for involuntary or unintentional sins,
this special sacrifice on Yom Kippur atoned for willful sin.
The blood of bulls and goats can never fully
The blood of bulls and goats can never fully
remove sin and iniquity; it can only cover it for a time.
Jewish men at the Wailing Wall praying for forgiveness.
A perfect, absolutely sinless sacrifice was required to
Jewish men at the Wailing Wall praying for forgiveness.
A perfect, absolutely sinless sacrifice was required to
pay the price for our rebellion and uncleanness. Only
Yeshua the Messiah could fulfill this role.
As the Divine Messiah, His body and blood are the
As the Divine Messiah, His body and blood are the
Kapparah (atonement) andKorban (sacrificial offering)
for our sins.
And when He rose on the third day, He revealed the
And when He rose on the third day, He revealed the
absolute holiness of His life and the effectiveness of
His sacrifice on the execution stake for all mankind.
Rabbinic tradition states that on Yom Kippur the
Rabbinic tradition states that on Yom Kippur the
Cohen (Jewish priest) would tie a scarlet cloth to
the horn of the Azazel and that when the sacrifice
was fully accepted, the scarlet cloth became white.
This wonderfully symbolized God's gracious promise
This wonderfully symbolized God's gracious promise
in Isaiah 1:18: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.”
Rabbi with two Torah scrolls in the
Rabbi with two Torah scrolls in the
Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) in the background.
Assurance of Atonement for Sin
“Sins overwhelmed me, but You atoned for
Assurance of Atonement for Sin
“Sins overwhelmed me, but You atoned for
our transgressions.” (Psalm 65:3)
The rabbis recognized that every man is in need of
The rabbis recognized that every man is in need of
atonement for his sins, for it is written, “There is
not a righteous man on earth who does what is
right and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
A Talmudic story is recorded in which
A Talmudic story is recorded in which
Yohanan ben Zakkai's disciples gather around
his deathbed and find him weeping.
They ask, “Rabbi, you are the light of Israel,
They ask, “Rabbi, you are the light of Israel,
the pillar on which we lean, the hammer that
crushes all heresy. Why should you weep?”
In answer, the rabbi confesses that he is
In answer, the rabbi confesses that he is
afraid to die because he is not sure whether he
will end up in heaven or hell.
Although God has provided atonement for all
Although God has provided atonement for all
of our sins through the blood of the Messiah Yeshua,
many Jewish people today are completely
unaware of God's Plan of Salvation through
the Jewish Messiah.
A Jewish man prays at the Western
(Wailing) Wall, which is at the base of the
Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where the
Holy Temple once stood and the High
Priest offered the atoning sacrifice on
Yom Kippur.
During this Holiest Day in Judaism the Jewish People
A Jewish man prays at the Western
(Wailing) Wall, which is at the base of the
Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where the
Holy Temple once stood and the High
Priest offered the atoning sacrifice on
Yom Kippur.
During this Holiest Day in Judaism the Jewish People
are prayerfully thinking about repentance,
forgiveness and atonement.
Could there be a better time to contemplate the
Could there be a better time to contemplate the
problem of iniquity and sin, or share how
Yeshua (Jesus) fulfilled the Messianic prophecies
and became the atoning sacrifice?
Today, please make a difference for Eternity
Today, please make a difference for Eternity
and help us reveal Yeshua as the atonement
(kapparah) for the Jew first, and also
for the non-Jew.
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"I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)
All of us here at Bibles For Israel
send heartfelt wishes to you for
a blessed Yom Kippur!
All of us here at Bibles For Israel
send heartfelt wishes to you for
a blessed Yom Kippur!
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An Open Door
Ahuva Balofsky grew up in Toronto, Canada and obtained her B.A. Hons. and B.Ed. at York University. She taught Tanach, Rabbinics and English at the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto. After making Aliyah in 2004 with her family, she completed a Master's degree in Tanach at Bar Ilan University, and currently teaches Bible studies and English.
