Yom Kippur

The songs

Each one is built from this parsha’s pesukim and the mefarshim further down the page. Tap the mic on any song for its words.

The parsha in brief

The whole parsha, aliyah by aliyah

All seven aliyos, in order, with the verse ranges as they are leined. The account of what happens stays to what the pesukim say; anything that explains why is quoted below.

1. 1

   1. Not at any time

   Leviticus 16:1-16:3

   Hashem speaks to Moshe after the death of Aharon's two sons, who died when they came close before Hashem. Moshe is to tell his brother Aharon that he may not come at any time he likes into the Holy place behind the Curtain, before the Ark-cover on the Aron, so that he not die. For in a cloud Hashem will appear over the Ark-cover. When Aharon does come in, he comes with a young bull for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering.

   וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה דַּבֵּר֮ אֶל־אַהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִיךָ֒ וְאַל־יָבֹ֤א בְכָל־עֵת֙ אֶל־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ מִבֵּ֖ית לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת אֶל־פְּנֵ֨י הַכַּפֹּ֜רֶת אֲשֶׁ֤ר עַל־הָאָרֹן֙ וְלֹ֣א יָמ֔וּת כִּ֚י בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן אֵרָאֶ֖ה עַל־הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃

   Adonoy spoke to Moshe: Speak to your brother Aharon that he not come at all times into the Holy [Sanctuary] that is inside of the Curtain, before the Ark-cover that is on the Ark so that he not die, for in a cloud I shall appear on the Ark-cover.

2. 2

   2. Holy linen garments

   Leviticus 16:4-16:6

   Aharon bathes his body in water and dresses in holy garments, all of linen: a linen tunic, linen pants, a linen sash and a linen turban. From the congregation of Bnei Yisrael he takes two he-goats for a sin-offering and one ram for a burnt-offering. Then he brings his own bull as a sin-offering and atones for himself and for his household.

   כְּתֹֽנֶת־בַּ֨ד קֹ֜דֶשׁ יִלְבָּ֗שׁ וּמִֽכְנְסֵי־בַד֮ יִהְי֣וּ עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ֒ וּבְאַבְנֵ֥ט בַּד֙ יַחְגֹּ֔ר וּבְמִצְנֶ֥פֶת בַּ֖ד יִצְנֹ֑ף בִּגְדֵי־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הֵ֔ם וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֛יִם אֶת־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ וּלְבֵשָֽׁם׃

   He shall don a sanctified, linen tunic and linen pants shall be on his body. He shall gird himself with a linen sash and place a linen turban on his head. These are sacred garments; he shall bathe his body in water and clothe himself in them.

3. 3

   3. Two goats, two lots

   Leviticus 16:7-16:11

   Aharon stands the two goats before Hashem at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and places lots on them: one lot for Hashem and one lot for Azazel. The goat whose lot falls for Hashem becomes a sin-offering. The goat whose lot falls for Azazel is stood alive before Hashem, to atone with it and to send it away to Azazel in the wilderness. Then Aharon slaughters his own bull, atoning for himself and his household.

   וְנָתַ֧ן אַהֲרֹ֛ן עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י הַשְּׂעִירִ֖ם גּוֹרָל֑וֹת גּוֹרָ֤ל אֶחָד֙ לַיהוָ֔ה וְגוֹרָ֥ל אֶחָ֖ד לַעֲזָאזֵֽל׃

   Aharon shall put lots on the two he-goats; one lot [marked] for Adonoy and one lot [marked] for Azazel.

4. 4

   4. Inside, in a cloud of incense

   Leviticus 16:12-16:17

   Aharon takes a pan full of burning coals from the mizbeach and two handfuls of finely ground incense and brings them inside the Curtain. He puts the incense on the fire before Hashem, and its cloud covers the Ark-cover. He sprinkles the bull's blood with his finger on the Ark-cover and seven times before it, then does the same with the people's goat. So he atones for the Sanctuary, which dwells with Bnei Yisrael in the midst of their impurity. No one else may be in the Tent of Meeting until he comes out, having atoned for himself, his household, and all the congregation of Yisrael.

   וְכִפֶּ֣ר עַל־הַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָ֑ם וְכֵ֤ן יַעֲשֶׂה֙ לְאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד הַשֹּׁכֵ֣ן אִתָּ֔ם בְּת֖וֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָֽם׃

   He will atone for the Sanctuary, from the impurities of Bnei Yisroel and from their rebellious sins for all their transgressions. He shall do likewise for the Tent of Meeting, that dwells with them in the midst of their impurity.

5. 5

   5. The goat sent to the wilderness

   Leviticus 16:18-16:24

   Aharon goes out to the mizbeach before Hashem, puts the blood of the bull and the goat on its corners, and sprinkles on it seven times, purifying it and making it holy. Then he brings the live goat, leans both hands on its head, and confesses over it all the sins of Bnei Yisrael. The goat is sent off with a man who stands ready, and it carries all their sins away to a barren land in the wilderness. Aharon takes off the linen garments and leaves them in the Tent of Meeting, bathes in a holy place, puts on his own garments, and brings the burnt-offerings for himself and for the people.

   וְנָשָׂ֨א הַשָּׂעִ֥יר עָלָ֛יו אֶת־כָּל־עֲוֺנֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ גְּזֵרָ֑ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֖יר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

   The goat shall carry upon itself all of their iniquities to a desolate land, and [the man shall] send the goat into the desert.

6. 6

   6. On this day you are purified

   Leviticus 16:25-16:30

   The fat of the sin-offering is burned on the mizbeach. The man who led the goat away, and the one who burns the remains of the bull and the goat outside the camp, each wash their clothes and bathe before coming back into the camp. Then the Torah makes it a statute forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and do no work, the native-born and the ger alike. "For on this day He will make atonement for you, to purify you from all your sins; before Hashem you will be purified."

   כִּֽי־בַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה יְכַפֵּ֥ר עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם לְטַהֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֑ם מִכֹּל֙ חַטֹּ֣אתֵיכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה תִּטְהָֽרוּ׃

   For on this day He will make atonement for you, to purify you from all your sins, before Adonoy, you will be purified.

7. 7

   7. Once a year

   Leviticus 16:31-16:34

   It is a Shabbos of complete rest for you, and you shall afflict yourselves, a statute forever. In every generation the Kohen who is anointed in his father's place does this atonement, wearing the linen, the holy garments. He atones for the Sanctuary, the Tent of Meeting and the mizbeach, for the kohanim and for all the people. It happens once a year, and Aharon did just as Hashem commanded Moshe.

   וְהָֽיְתָה־זֹּ֨את לָכֶ֜ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֗ם לְכַפֵּ֞ר עַל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִכָּל־חַטֹּאתָ֔ם אַחַ֖ת בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (פ)

   This shall be for you as an everlasting statute, to achieve atonement for Bnei Yisroel from all their sins, once a year. He did as Adonoy commanded Moshe.

8. 8

   8. The offerings of the day

   Numbers 29:7-29:11

   The maftir is from the list of festival offerings. On the tenth day of the seventh month there is a holy gathering: you shall fast and do no work. The offering is one young bull, one ram, and seven yearling lambs, all without blemish, each with its meal-offering of fine flour mixed with oil. One he-goat is brought as a sin-offering, besides the atonement sin-offering and the daily burnt-offering.

   וּבֶעָשׂוֹר֩ לַחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י הַזֶּ֗ה מִֽקְרָא־קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם וְעִנִּיתֶ֖ם אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם כָּל־מְלָאכָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃

   On the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a sacred holiday to you, when you shall fast and not do any work.

From the mefarshim

Every one of these is the mefaresh’s own words, fetched and checked. Not a summary.

1. 1Rashi — only on this one day

   ולא ימות. שֶׁאִם בָּא הוּא מֵת (ספרא):

   ולא ימות THAT HE DIE NOT — for if he comes into the Holy of Holies at any time other than Yom-Kippur he will die (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 1 4).

   Rashi on Leviticus 16:2:2

2. 2Rashi — plain linen, no gold

   כתנת בד וגו'. מַגִּיד שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ לִפְנִים בִּשְׁמוֹנָה בְגָדִים שֶׁהוּא מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן בַּחוּץ, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם זָהָב, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין קָטֵגוֹר נַעֲשֶׂה סָנֵגוֹר, אֶלָּא בְּאַרְבָּעָה כְּכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט — וְכֻלָּן שֶׁל בּוּץ (ראש השנה כ"ו):

   'כתנת בד וגו [HE SHALL PUT ON] THE LINEN INNER GARMENTS etc. — This teaches us that he must not officiate in the “Interior" (in the Holy of Holies) robed in the eight garments which were the insignia of the High Priest (cf. Exodus 28:4ff) in which he performed the service outside (in the היכל and the עזרה) and in which there was gold interwoven, — because the prosecuting counsel cannot become the defending counsel) — but in the four garments (cf. Exodus 28:40), like an ordinary priest, all of these being on this occasion entirely of linen (whereas one of the four worn by the ordinary priests, the belt, was a mixture of wool and linen) (Rosh Hashanah 26a).

   Rashi on Leviticus 16:4:1

3. 3Rashi — ground extra fine

   דקה. מַה תַּ"ל דַּקָּה? וַהֲלֹא כָל הַקְּטֹרֶת דַּקָּה הִיא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְשָׁחַקְתָּ מִמֶּנָּה הָדֵק (שמות ל"ו), אֶלָּא שֶׁתְּהֵא דַּקָּה מִן הַדַּקָּה, שֶׁבְּעֶרֶב יֹהַ"כִּ הָיָה מַחֲזִירָהּ לַמַּכְתֶּשֶׁת (כריתות ו'):

   דקה [AND HIS HANDS FULL OF INCENSE OF AROMATICS] FINE — Why is it stated that it shall be fine? Was not all incense fine, for so it is said, (Exodus 30:36) "And thou shall rub some of it very fine” - ? But it is intended to teach that it (the incense used on the Day of Atonement) was to be of the very finest powder, for on the Eve of the Day of Atonement it (the ordinary incense) was put again into the mortar in order that it should be again beaten into a finer powder. (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 3 8-9; Keritot 6b; Yoma 45a).

   Rashi on Leviticus 16:12:3

4. 4Rashi — Hashem stays with us

   השכן אתם בתוך טמאתם. אַעַ"פִּי שֶׁהֵם טְמֵאִים שְׁכִינָה בֵינֵיהֶם (שם):

   השכן אתם בתוך טמאתם— This implies that although they are unclean nevertheless the Shechinah dwells in their midst (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 5; Yoma 57a).

   Rashi on Leviticus 16:16:4

5. 5Rashi — clean from what has passed

   וטהרו. מִמַּה שֶּׁעָבָר:

   וטהרו AND THUS HE CLEANSES IT from the defilement that happened to it in the past,

   Rashi on Leviticus 16:19:2

6. 6Rashi — holy for what is to come

   וקדשו. לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא (ספרא):

   וקדשו AND HALLOWS IT for use in the future (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 13)

   Rashi on Leviticus 16:19:3

7. 7Rashi — ready from the day before

   איש עתי. הַמּוּכָן לְכָךְ מִיּוֹם אֶתְמוֹל:

   איש עתי A READY MAN — one who was held in readiness for this purpose from yesterday (Yoma 66a; Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 4 8).

   Rashi on Leviticus 16:21:1

8. 8Sforno — every one of us gets ready

   כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר. וְהַטַּעַם שֶׁתִּצְטָרְכוּ עִם זֶה גַּם לִשְׁבִיתָה וְעִנּוּי, הוּא כִּי אָמְנָם הַכֹּהֵן בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ יְכַפֵּר בִּלְבַד, וְעִנְיַן הַכִּפּוּר הוּא הַקְטָנַת הַחֵטְא וְהַכְנָתוֹ לְקַבֵּל סְלִיחָה.

   כי ביום הזה יכפר, the reason why the other factors mentioned just now are required in addition to the sacrificial service is that if the entire load of achieving atonement were to be placed on the shoulders of the High Priest this would amount only to “downgrading” of the seriousness of the sins which is what the term of כיפור is all about. The individual must prepare himself mentally for obtaining forgiveness from his Maker by these additional measures.

   Sforno on Leviticus 16:30:1

9. 9Sforno — only Hashem sees the heart

   לִפְנֵי ה׳ תִּטְהָרוּ. אֲבָל הַשָּׂגַת הַטָּהֳרָה וְהַסְּלִיחָה הַגְּמוּרָה תִּהְיֶה לִפְנֵי ה׳ בִּלְבַד, וְזֶה בְּוִדּוּי וּתְשׁוּבָה, שֶׁהוּא לְבַדּוֹ יָדַע אֲמִתָּתָם, וּבִשְׁבִיל כָּךְ.

   לפני ה' תטהרו, absolute forgiveness, rehabilitation, can occur only in the presence of the Lord, which in turn can be achieved only by personal confession of one’s sin and one’s absolute undertaking not to commit such sins again in similar circumstances. The verse is introduced here to remind us that only the Lord Himself is aware of the sincerity of one’s teshuvah, one’s repentance.

   Sforno on Leviticus 16:30:2

10. 10Rashi — for his King, not for himself

    ויעש כאשר צוה וגו'. כְּשֶׁהִגִּיעַ יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים עָשָֹה כַּסֵּדֶר הַזֶּה; וּלְהַגִּיד שִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לוֹבְשָׁן לִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֶלָּא כִּמְקַיֵּם גְּזֵרַת הַמֶּלֶךְ (שם):

    'ויעש כאשר צוה וגו AND HE DID AS [THE LORD] COMMANDED [MOSES] etc. — When the next Day of Atonement arrived he (Aaron) did everything as is here set forth in order. And Scripture only states this in order to declare the praise of Aaron — that he did not attire himself with them (the official garments) for his own aggrandisement, but as one who was executing the ordinance of his King (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 8 10).

    Rashi on Leviticus 16:34:1

Vorts & shmuessen on this parsha

Good vorts and shmuessen on this parsha from around the Torah world: a taste of each, and the link to learn it properly. Every excerpt is verbatim, checked against the page itself.

• Vort, aish.com

  God is Always With Us, Even After We Transgress

  Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski

  “God is with us even if we have sinned. As long as we feel a desire to be close to God, we know ourselves to be of His essence, and that we are capable of becoming more spiritual.”

  Learn it inside

• Shmuess, aish.com

  The Scapegoat

  Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

  “Then we let go of them. Let our sins, that might have led us into exile, be exiled. Let the wilderness reclaim the wild. Let us strive to stay close to God.”

  Learn it inside

• Shmuess, aish.com

  Eliminating the Spiritual Waste

  Rabbi Abba Wagensberg

  “The task of Yom Kippur is to let go of ourselves, our inner spiritual barriers, and let God in.”

  Learn it inside