Scapegoat
Question
What was the significance of the Scapegoat in Lev 16?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
The procedure you refer to is the Yom Kippur ceremony of the two goats.
A lottery was drawn to determine which goat would a be give as an offering on the altar and which goat would be the “scapegoat” sent into the wilderness and thrown off a cliff. The scapegoat atones for the sins of the Jewish people.
The Talmud emphasizes that no one should think that thye can sin all year and that the Yom Kippur scapegoat will atone for them. No way. We are told that the scapegoat only atones for those who have properly repented their sins, as well.
Comments
Have an additional question on this topic or need clarification? Leave your comment below. (Please note that the comment will not be published but will be sent directly to the answering Rabbi for review and a private response)
Become our patrners in supporting and spreading the Torah
Help us answer more questions faster and better
Join the mission