Question on atonement and sacrifice
Question
I am Christian and have been reading the Old testament of the Bible recently. I read in Exodus about how sacrifices are to be carried out for atonement for sins. I assume sacrifices are not being performed today in Jewish temples. How do people of the Jewish faith atone for sins today and what changed to no longer require the sacrifice of animals and the blood to be spilled on the altar? I've only gotten as far as judges so perhaps the answer is further on in the Torah or the Old testament. Thank you.
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
Indeed, due to the absence of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem we are unable to offer sacrifices nowadays.
As such, repentance, prayer and good deeds is our key to atonement. As the prophet says (Hosea 14:2) "Let our lips substitute for bulls."