Thought for the Week: Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement is a special holy day. During the 10 days between New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Jews were called to remember the past year: what they had done right and what they had done wrong. They gave thanks for what they had done right and tried to make right what they had done wrong during the year.

They no longer offer sacrifices. But originally, there were sacrifices and prayers for forgiveness offered to God. The High Priest was responsible. He prayed first for his own forgiveness, then for that of his family, for the other priests, and finally f...