Avodah (Yom Kippur)

Abodah

Avodah (Yom Kippur) refers to the special service performed by the High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This service is considered the most sacred and significant ritual in the Jewish liturgical calendar.

Historical Background

The Avodah service is detailed in the Torah, specifically in the Book of Leviticus (Leviticus 16). It outlines the intricate procedures that the High Priest must follow to atone for his sins, the sins of his household, and the sins of the entire Israelite community.

Rituals and Procedures

The Avodah service includes several key components:

Preparation

Before Yom Kippur, the High Priest would undergo a week of preparation, including seclusion, study, and ritual purification. On the day of Yom Kippur, he would don special white linen garments, symbolizing purity.

Sacrifices

The High Priest would offer a series of sacrifices, including a bull for his own sins and those of his household, and two goats for the sins of the people. One goat, known as the scapegoat, would be sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the sins of the community.

Incense Offering

The High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctum of the Temple, only on this day. He would offer incense on the Ark of the Covenant, creating a cloud of smoke that would cover the Mercy Seat.

Sprinkling of Blood

The High Priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrificial animals on the Ark and the altar, symbolizing the purification of the Temple and the people.

Confession and Atonement

The High Priest would confess the sins of the people, laying his hands on the head of the scapegoat, which would then be sent into the wilderness. This act symbolized the removal of sin from the community.

Significance

The Avodah service is central to the observance of Yom Kippur, emphasizing themes of repentance, atonement, and purification. It reflects the deep spiritual connection between the people and God, and the importance of communal and individual repentance.

Modern Observance

With the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the Avodah service can no longer be performed in its original form. However, its memory is preserved in the Yom Kippur liturgy, particularly in the Musaf service, where the detailed description of the Avodah is recited.

See Also

• Yom Kippur
• High Priest
• Temple in Jerusalem
• Scapegoat
• Holy of Holies
• Ark of the Covenant
• Musaf