The Pagan Ego

In the Hebrew Bible we do not find any reason for the choice of the tenth day of the month of Tishrei as the date on which to atone for the transgressions of the people of Israel (Leviticus 16:30). In the Book of Jubilees, a non-canonical text from the second century bce, we find a version that says this was the day on which the brothers who had sold Joseph deceitfully told their father of his death. Therefore, the people of Israel, their descendants, must give offerings and raise prayers to atone for the sin of their ancestors (chapter 34) on that day. In the Yom Kippur liturgy, Jews repeat: “Listen, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is One” (Dt 6:4). “The Lord is God” reminds us of the declaration of faith of the people before Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:39). Therefore, the essence of Yom Kippur is to meet again with God to ...