Jewish Apologetics (Under Construction)

Servant — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:45:23 +0000

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One key extract:

Lev 17:11 – Does it only explain Kosher diet, or does it also explain the reason behind the complete sacrificial system?

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.” (JPS 1917)

Rashi interprets this as explaining why blood is necessary for atonement. The sacrifice is an offering of life for the life of the sinner i.e. “life for life”. This is where the concept of “substitutionary atonement” comes from.

The Talmudic rabbis asked, Does the laying on of the hand [on the sacrifice] make the atonement for a person? Does not atonement come through the blood, as it is said: For it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life! [Lev. 17:11] … Does the waving [of the offering] make atonement? Is it not the blood which makes atonement, as it is written, “For it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life” [again, Lev. 17:11]? (b. Yoma 5a, as translated in the Soncino Talmud; cf. also the virtually identical wording in b. Zevahim 6a; b. Menahot 93b; Sifra 4:9).