The name "Yom Kippur" means "Day of Atonement," and that pretty much explains what the holiday is. It is a day set aside to "afflict the soul," to atone for the sins of the past year. In Days of Awe, G-d inscribes all of our names. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in these books is sealed. This day is, essentially, your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.
Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible.
Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath; no work can be performed on that day. It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur. It is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur.
The strangest element of the service on Yom Kippur, set out in Acharei Mot,1 was the ritual of the two goats, one offered as a sacrifice, the other sent away into the desert “to Azazel.” They were brought before the High Priest, to all intents and purposes indistinguishable from one another: they were chosen to be as similar as possible to one another in size and appearance. Lots were drawn, one bearing the words “To the L‑rd,” the other, “To Azazel.” The one on which the lot “To the L‑rd” fell was offered as a sacrifice. Over the other the High Priest confessed the sins of the nation and it was then taken away into the desert hills outside Jerusalem where it plunged to its death. Tradition tells us that a red thread would be attached to its horns, half of which was removed before the animal was sent away. If the rite had been effective, the red thread would turn to white.
Consider an activity for kids who are exploring Yom Kippur liturgy or studying the parsha Acharei Mot.
So, we have to stick our leftover mistakes on a goat which will be “sent away.” We could just write something on a paper note and press it on a goat poster, or use “Al Chet” (which means missed mark, Hebrew analog for “sin”) cardboard pieces slapped on the back sticky side which are far more satisfying, and private as well. Don’t nobody know what’s written on the opposite side.
The scapegoat in the liturgy isn’t a individual thing, it’s a community thing. So, this would be a good activity for a classroom or the family togeteher. Participants write at least one way they “missed the mark” in the last year.
Kids (and adults) write their mistake on the back of slips of paper. This ties in to teaching kids about the Vidui section of the Yom Kippur liturgy, with all that weird and unforgettable chest beating.
You need:
a paper goat drawing to paint or print and cover it with adhesive plastic paper.
I printed the goat on four A4 papers, put the papers together, cut out its borders.
Then, put the goat on a larger blue cardborad and tie a red ribbon on the goat neck.
Feel free to print my PDF template of the goat.
LINKS: eScapegoat app from G-dCast Scapegoat ritual from MyJewishLearning.com Yom Kippur All Year Long from MyJewishLearning.com
The Laws & Customs of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible.
Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath; no work can be performed on that day. It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur. It is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur Scapegoat Activity
The strangest element of the service on Yom Kippur, set out in Acharei Mot,1 was the ritual of the two goats, one offered as a sacrifice, the other sent away into the desert “to Azazel.” They were brought before the High Priest, to all intents and purposes indistinguishable from one another: they were chosen to be as similar as possible to one another in size and appearance. Lots were drawn, one bearing the words “To the L‑rd,” the other, “To Azazel.” The one on which the lot “To the L‑rd” fell was offered as a sacrifice. Over the other the High Priest confessed the sins of the nation and it was then taken away into the desert hills outside Jerusalem where it plunged to its death. Tradition tells us that a red thread would be attached to its horns, half of which was removed before the animal was sent away. If the rite had been effective, the red thread would turn to white.
Consider an activity for kids who are exploring Yom Kippur liturgy or studying the parsha Acharei Mot.
So, we have to stick our leftover mistakes on a goat which will be “sent away.” We could just write something on a paper note and press it on a goat poster, or use “Al Chet” (which means missed mark, Hebrew analog for “sin”) cardboard pieces slapped on the back sticky side which are far more satisfying, and private as well. Don’t nobody know what’s written on the opposite side.
The scapegoat in the liturgy isn’t a individual thing, it’s a community thing. So, this would be a good activity for a classroom or the family togeteher. Participants write at least one way they “missed the mark” in the last year.
Kids (and adults) write their mistake on the back of slips of paper. This ties in to teaching kids about the Vidui section of the Yom Kippur liturgy, with all that weird and unforgettable chest beating.
You need:
a paper goat drawing to paint or print and cover it with adhesive plastic paper.
I printed the goat on four A4 papers, put the papers together, cut out its borders.
Then, put the goat on a larger blue cardborad and tie a red ribbon on the goat neck.
Feel free to print my PDF template of the goat.
LINKS: eScapegoat app from G-dCast Scapegoat ritual from MyJewishLearning.com Yom Kippur All Year Long from MyJewishLearning.com
