Kappara

Found 6 Search results

1. Repentance and Atonement: The Haftara of Yom Kippur

   Haftarot: Yom Kippur

   Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein

   Does the haftara of Yom Kippur teach us about repentance or atonement? This lesson examines the terms teshuva and kappara, while highlighting the connection between these concepts and mitzvot between Man and His Fellow as opposed to mitzvot between man and God.

2. The Sanctity of the Nation of Israel in Sefer Devarim

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   Why are obligatory sacrifices not mentioned in Devarim? Apparently there is an essential distinction between atonement in Vayikra and atonement in Devarim. In Vayikra the essence of sanctity stems from the Mishkan, and the nation's atonement is achieved through the work of the Kohanim. In Devarim, the essence of Kedusha is embodied by the nation; the sins of Am Yisrael are forgiven through prayer and teshuva.

3. Atonement in Sefer Vayikra and in Sefer Devarim

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   Bnei Yisrael are told, for the first time, that God will choose a place for the dwelling of the Divine Presence, where they can bring their gifts to God. The list of gifts is repeated over and over, which raises the question: why does the Torah mention the voluntary sacrifices (Olah and Shelamim; Tithes; vows; etc.) but omit the obligatory sacrifices? Devarim seems in general to ignore obligatory sacrifices. The reason might offer perspective on the distinction between Vayikra and Devarim.

4. Atoning for Impurity?

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 15 minutes

   Parshat Metzora focuses on tzaraat, an extremely severe type of tum'a, with a detailed purification process. By seeing what the Metzora (the affected person) undergoes to remove, we can understand what he is removing and what the significance is of “kappara” (atonement) in a case which is apparently beyond one's control.

5. Yom Kippur in Tanakh

   HaTanakh.com Staff

6. The Meaning of Kappara (Atonement) in the Torah

   Rabbi Yehuda Rock

   Kappara (atonement) occupies a very important place in the Torah, particularly in the context of the Sanctuary and its sacrifices. The subject is covered for the most part in Sefer Vayikra, but it is actually in the story of Yaakov and Esav (in parashat Vayishlach) that the commentators have chosen to address the general question of the meaning of atonement.

   It would seem that "atonement" is generally understood as occupying the same semantic realm as forgiveness (selicha) and pardon (mechila), i.e., as referring to a change in attitude on God's part towards man, with regard to his sins, and in the context of withholding punishment. In rabbinic literature, this meaning certainly exists. However, as we shall see, in the language of the Torah this is not what the concept means.

   Our discussion will be based on a philological and exegetical examination, following which we will also be able to build a more fundamental conceptual understanding of kappara, pertaining to some elementary aspects of the relations between man and God.