Two Goats, One Divine Relationship
In the times of the Beis Hamikdash, one of the highlights of the year was the service on Yom Kippur by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). Of his many tasks that day, one seems tangential and puzzling. The Kohen Gadol drew lots to decide which of the two identical male goats, which were to be identical in appearance, size, and value, was to be marked “L’Hashem”, brought as a Karbon Chatos (sin offering), and which one was to be “Azazel” to be hurled along a steep cliff in the judean desert to its death.
There were approximately 1,289 Karbanos Tzibur (sacrifices on behalf of the public) annually. Except for this one goat offering on Yom Kippur no lots were drawn to decide which animal was to be assigned to which public sacrifice and the decision was at the discretion of those in charge of the public funds. Why was this sacrifice specifically assigned to lots, is it really consequential which animal went where? Moreover, couldn’t someone else have casted the lots, why was this task even a significant part of the service required to be done by the High Priest himself? Finally, while we pray for the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash, the return of the full Yom Kippur service, what meaning do these lots have for us today?
To fully appreciate the idea of the lots, one needs to have a deeper appreciation of the atonement of Yom Kippur. While teshuva (repentance) is a prerequisite¹, the atonement of the day is not due to any specific act of repentance, rather as the Rambam writes “the day itself forgives”². Hashem is absolving us of our sins on Yom Kippur not due to any other reason, except that we are his people, his nation, and his children. There is no rhyme or reason, no logic that goes into this decision, nor is it one that can be explained rationally. Just like a mother can't verbalize why she loves her own child and not another. It is not her child’s looks, intelligence, tallents, or abilities, that creates this bond with her, rather it is only because it is her child and it is for that reason alone she prefers him or her over anyone else's child.
When lots are drawn, there is no thought or logic which lot goes to whom. It is a random choice and left to a higher power, one higher than any intellect can dictate. This is the essence of the day of Yom Kippur, to realize that we are operating on a plane higher than reason and to recognize Hashem’s relationship with us, and our relationship with him, is not rooted in logic or understood by explanation. It is solely Hashem’s will.
On Yom Kippur, the most holy and auspicious day of the year, let us take some time to reflect and contemplate this unique relationship. How at times we may have taken it for granted, and what can we do in the coming year to strengthen it. Let us value it, cherish it, and use it as a compass, guiding us to a new and improved attachment with Hashem, his Torah, and his mitzvahs.
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רבי אומר: על כל עבירות שבתורה, בין עשה תשובה בין לא עשה תשובה יום הכפורים מכפר, חוץ מפורק"1 עול ומגלה פנים בתורה ומפר ברית בבשר, שאם עשה תשובה יום הכפורים מכפר, ואם לאו אין יום הכפורים מכפר". חכמים חולקים על ר' יהודה הנשיא וסוברים שיום כיפור מכפר רק על השבים (שבועות יג ע"א)
2.
רמב"ם (הל' שגגות ג,י) עיצומו של יום מכפר