Tzav

Continuous Atonement

Adapted from Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams

"This was the purification offering for the altar [that] made it holy, so atonement could be made by it." (Leviticus/Vayikra 8:15)

The altar was at the center of every camp the Israelites set up during their travels in the wilderness. Why? So that we should not think, "the world would be a much better place if everyone else would just engage in atonement." And so that we should think, "Atonement -- reflection, reparation, and renewal - is at the center of my life."

The Talmud says, "Three things call a person's sins to be presented before God for immediate judgment: walking next to a shaky wall, being pompous in prayer, and calling down God's judgment upon someone else." (Talmud Bavli, Tractate Rosh Hashanah 16b)

Only a person convinced that their own righteousness protects them from harm would deliberately walk next to a shaky wall. Only a person certain that all their petitions will be accepted would be pompous in prayer. Only a person sure of their moral superiority would dare to wish that God judge another immediately. Such certainty about one's own perfection, the Talmud says, brings down God's judgment.

The inner practice of atonement ought to take place all year round. Those who make a regular practice of reflection, reparation, and renewal are trusted by God to get through the year. Thus, God reviews their cases only on Rosh Hashanah. But anyone too arrogant to atone is judged by God immediately, in order to provoke the desire to atone.

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