29: Achrei Mot
Welcome to TLDR Torah: a synopsis of the weekly parsha based on Robert Alter’s translation, plus a question to spur your Shabbat dinner (or any!) conversation.
Parsha Achrei Mot (Leviticus 16:1-18:30)
TLDR:
The parsha picks up after the untimely death of Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu, referenced as a warning of the danger of entering the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur.
The Torah describes what Aaron has to do on Yom Kippur, specifically to make a sin offering for himself and the people of Israel, and to put “lots” on two goats.
One goat is designated for God as a sacrifice, and the other for “Azazel”, to be sent into the wilderness to die. (Contrary to later imagery, there is no cliff that the goat falls off). The latter goat bears all of the people’s transgressions.
The people are commanded to cease all work on the 10th day of the 7th month and make it a day of atonement. Only on that day could Aaron enter the Holy of Holies.
God insists that all sacrifices must occur at the Tabernacle, conveniently giving the priesthood centralized control, and that no blood should be eaten as part of the sacrificial rituals.
Shifting topics again, God tells the people not to follow the laws of other nations (such as the Egyptians and Canaanites), and lists specific sexual prohibitions, such as sleeping with family members, neighbors, or animals, touching women during their menstrual period, and intercrural and anal sex (apparently for the reason of not wanting to “waste seed”. The exact interpretation is much debated).
God also directs the people not to conduct child sacrifices (coming from the phrase “do not dedicate any of your seed to pass over to Molech”). In case anyone had bright ideas…
Question:
What is the spiritual significance of purging your sins every year? Or more specifically, a singular priest doing so for the entire people? Is there overlapping symbolism here between Christianity and Judaism?