Acharei Mot - After the death אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-18:30
Reading #2 - Leviticus 16:18–24
My Thoughts:
Kind of a different commandment to “confess” all the sins of Israel over a live goat. Of course it is very symbolic. The goat then is taken into the wilderness and left to roam. What is interesting is Hashem lets the goat live. Secondly, it is sent away. Just like us, I guess. We confess our sins and we live. He sends our sins into the “wilderness” and away from us. That to me is a gracious Elohim. Full of mercy and grace for all we have done wrong (and continue to do). Thank you Hashem.
Challenge:
Atonement for the Tabernacle is a number one priority. Before any sacrifices can happen, Aaron must be cleansed and so must the interior of the Holy of Holies. Makes sense. It should all be as perfect as possible because this is where the glory of Hashem will reside. Makes me think about our own lives. How “clean” are we inside for the “presence” of the Ruach HaKodesh to visit? We must daily confess and repent. Do Teshuvah. Ask Hashem to forgive us and prepare a place for His love to reside within us. Do you agree?
Reading #2 - Leviticus 16:18–24
16:18 “He shall go out to the altar that is before Hashem and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the goat’s blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
20 “When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready. 22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.
23 “Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. 24 Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, put on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.
