General Overview: This week's reading, Acharei-Kedoshim, begins with a
detailed description of the service of the High Priest on Yom Kippur.
Dozens of commandments are then discussed in this week's reading. Among
them: the prohibitions against offering sacrifices outside the Temple;
consuming blood; incestuous, adulterous, or other forbidden
relationships; various mandatory gifts for the poor; love for every Jew,
prohibition against sorcery; honesty in business dealings; and sexual
morality.
Aliya Summary: The High Priest is instructed
to only enter the Holy of Holies chamber of the sanctuary once a year,
on Yom Kippur; and even on this holiest day of the year, the entry into
the Temple's inner sanctum must be accompanied by a special service and
specific offerings which are detailed in this reading. The High Priest
was only permitted to enter amidst a cloud of burning incense. Also,
special white garments were worn by the High Priest on this day. While
offering the day's sacrifices, the High Priest would "confess" on behalf
of the entire nation, attaining atonement for the past year's sins.
This section continues with a description of the "scapegoat" ceremony
procedure.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment