Atonement

Teshuva enables those who have sinned to receive forgiveness from HASHEM. This is such an important aspect of Jewish life that an entire holiday is devoted to contemplation, introspection and repentance. Jews are required to review their deeds from the past year with extra care, to request forgiveness from man and G-d.

“For on this day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you; from all your sins before HASHEM shall you be cleansed. (Leviticus 16:30)”

 “For the soul of the flesh is in the blood and I have assigned it for you upon the Altar to provide atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that atones for the soul. Therefore I have said to the Children of Israel: “Any person among you may not consume blood; and the proselyte who dwells among you may not consume blood. (Leviticus 17:11, 12)”

Many Christians mistakenly assume that blood sacrifice is the only means of atonement. They claim that without the Temple sacrifices the Jews are not able to receive atonement for their sins. Some offerings made in the temple involve blood, but it has never been the only source of atonement. In the Babylonian exile there were no Temple sacrifices, yet those who served HASHEM, like Daniel, were able to communicate with HASHEM. G-d does not turn away sincere requests for forgiveness made by those unable to offer a sacrifice. HASHEM took away the Temple, but He did not take away forgiveness.

When there was no Temple standing, and the people were in exile, the prophet Hosea instructed the people to,

“Take words with you and return to HASHEM; say to Him, ‘May You forgive all iniquity and accept good, and let our lips substitute for bulls. (Hosea 14:3)’”

G-d responds with reassurance to these sincere requests of His people to forgive them based on the merit of their deeds and words,

“I will rectify their waywardness; I will love them gratuitously; for My anger has turned away from them. (Hosea 14:5)”

G-d will forgive without blood. He does not refuse to forgive those who sincerely repent. In the Temple, offerings are made that contain blood. This blood is not fit for human consumption, because “…the life of any creature is its blood (vs. 14). The blood is the part of the sacrificial animal that makes atonement. When one looks at the context of this verse, it is clear that the main intent and message is to communicate that since the life is in the blood it is not to be consumed. The verse does not say that the blood is the sole way of receiving atonement. There are examples in the Torah of atonement being provided through other means such as through silver, incense, and gold articles.

“You shall take the silver of the atonements from the Children of Israel and give it for the work of the Tent of Meeting; and it shall be a remembrance before HASHEM for the Children of Israel, to atone for your souls. (Exodus 30:16)”

“Aaron took as Moses had spoken and ran to the midst of the congregation, and behold! The plague had begun among the people. He placed the incense and provided atonement for the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was checked. (Numbers 17:12, 13)”

“So we have brought an offering for HASHEM: what any man found of gold vessels, anklet and bracelet ring, earring, and clasp, to atone for our souls before HASHEM. (Numbers 31:50)”

The Jewish prohibition of drinking blood is found in Leviticus 17. This prohibition creates an ironic disparity between these two religions. Jews are forbidden to drink blood, while Christians engage in rituals where they believe they are either symbolically or literally drinking human blood.