Difference between revisions of "Purpose of the Service of Vayikra 16/2"

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<p>The main focus of the service was to achieve Atonement for all of Israel. Any part of the&#160;service that has to do with&#160;purification of the Mikdash is just a means to the ends of&#160;Atonement</p>
 
<p>The main focus of the service was to achieve Atonement for all of Israel. Any part of the&#160;service that has to do with&#160;purification of the Mikdash is just a means to the ends of&#160;Atonement</p>
 
<mekorot><multilink><a href="RSaadiaGaonCommentaryVayikra16" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RSaadiaGaonCommentaryVayikra16" data-aht="source">Commentary Vayikra 16</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>,</mekorot>
 
<mekorot><multilink><a href="RSaadiaGaonCommentaryVayikra16" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RSaadiaGaonCommentaryVayikra16" data-aht="source">Commentary Vayikra 16</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>,</mekorot>
<point><b>Why start with Nadav and Avihu?</b> To achieve atonement for the people, it is required for Aharon to go into the Holy of Hollies. Since according to&#160;<a href="RSaadiaGaonCommentaryVayikra16" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><span class="aht-chrome-space"> (verify this) explains that Nadav and Avihu were killed for going into the Holy of Hollies, Hashem used them as an example for what could happen if you go into the Holy of Hollies without the accompanying service.&#160;</span></point>
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<point><b>Why start with Nadav and Avihu?</b> To achieve atonement for the people, it is required for Aharon to go into the Holy of Hollies. Since according to&#160;<a href="RSaadiaGaonCommentaryVayikra16" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><span class="aht-chrome-space"> (verify this) explains that Nadav and Avihu were killed for going into the Holy of Hollies, Hashem used them as an example for what could happen if you go into the Holy of Hollies without the accompanying&#160;service.&#160;</span></point>
 
<point><b>What sins are being atoned for?</b> The atonement from the service is for all of the sins of Israel.</point>
 
<point><b>What sins are being atoned for?</b> The atonement from the service is for all of the sins of Israel.</point>
 
<point><b>Is the purification for the people or the place?</b> The purification is for the people exclusively. Any reference to purifying the Kodesh or any part of the Mikdash is not to be understood as purifying the place or objects themselves; instead these objects are facilitating the atonement through the service of the day.</point>
 
<point><b>Is the purification for the people or the place?</b> The purification is for the people exclusively. Any reference to purifying the Kodesh or any part of the Mikdash is not to be understood as purifying the place or objects themselves; instead these objects are facilitating the atonement through the service of the day.</point>
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</ul></point>
 
</ul></point>
 
<point><b>Is the purification for the people or the place?</b> The purification is for the Mikdash that has become impure. Any reference to the atonement of Israel's sins is a means to purify the temple.</point>
 
<point><b>Is the purification for the people or the place?</b> The purification is for the Mikdash that has become impure. Any reference to the atonement of Israel's sins is a means to purify the temple.</point>
<point><b>Is there a greater atonement?&#160;</b> – The biggest issue with this opinion appears in one of the last verses in the chapter (16:30):<multilang style="overflow: auto">
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<point><b>Is there a greater atonement?</b></point>
<q xml:lang="he" dir="rtl" style="margin-bottom:0;">כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי י"י תִּטְהָרוּ.<br/><br/></q>
 
<q xml:lang="en" style="margin-bottom:0;">For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall ye be clean before the Lord.</q>
 
</multilang></point>
 
 
</category>
 
</category>
 
<category>A Greater Purpose
 
<category>A Greater Purpose

Version as of 23:54, 14 June 2018

The Service of Acharei Mot

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Atonement for the People

The main focus of the service was to achieve Atonement for all of Israel. Any part of the service that has to do with purification of the Mikdash is just a means to the ends of Atonement

Why start with Nadav and Avihu? To achieve atonement for the people, it is required for Aharon to go into the Holy of Hollies. Since according to R. Saadia Gaon (verify this) explains that Nadav and Avihu were killed for going into the Holy of Hollies, Hashem used them as an example for what could happen if you go into the Holy of Hollies without the accompanying service. 
What sins are being atoned for? The atonement from the service is for all of the sins of Israel.
Is the purification for the people or the place? The purification is for the people exclusively. Any reference to purifying the Kodesh or any part of the Mikdash is not to be understood as purifying the place or objects themselves; instead these objects are facilitating the atonement through the service of the day.

Purification of the Temple

The main focus of the service is to purify the Mikdash from impurity. All issues that deal with atonement are just a byproduct of rectifying the impurity in the Mikdash.

Why start with Nadav and Avihu? Since the death of Nadav and Avihu caused the Midash and certain utensils to be impure, there is a need to purify them through this service.
What Sins are being atoned for? It depends on whether the impurity is a Halakhic or Metaphoric: 
  • Metaphoric - There must be atonement for all the sins of Israel that are causing the Mikdash to be impure.
  • Halakhic - There is only atonement for sins directly dealing with the impurity of the Mikdash, i.e., Making the Mikdash impure, eating sacrifices in an impure state, etc. 
Is the purification for the people or the place? The purification is for the Mikdash that has become impure. Any reference to the atonement of Israel's sins is a means to purify the temple.
Is there a greater atonement?

A Greater Purpose

Both purifications of the Mikdash and Atonement for the people are only a part of a greater whole which is the real reason for the Yom Kippur service.