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What does Atonement mean?
A standard synonym is reconciliation.
What is the etymology of the word atone?
Make two words from the word atone.
Atone = At One
This is not the true translation of our word Kippur which is, to cleanse or wash, yet the sentiment is clear.
Sin creates distance and a rift in a relationship. Atonement is our opportunity to reestablish the bond, to get back together! To be at one!
This gives a whole different meaning to the High Holy Days, the Yomim Noraim.
Hashem is not here to nitpick and judge us, looking to find our faults.
He is giving us an opportunity to repair the relationship; to take stock of ourselves, to look at our credits and deficits and see where we have to make changes for the relationships sake.
Hoping you all have a most meaningful fast.
Avraham Bukspan
I believe the Hebrew root Kaf Pei Reish would most accurately be translated as “to remove”.
There is a beautiful article in the Rosh Hashona edition of the Jewish Tribune in England by Rabbi B Katz, illustrating how Yom Kippur is indeed a day of at-one-ment, meaning achdus.
A Thought For Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is often translated as ‘ the Day of Atonement ‘ – which I once heard ingeniously re-phrased as the Day of ‘AT-ONE-MENT’ – meaning a day on which we can be ‘at one’ with Hashem by returning to Him.
This is not only a clever play on words, but also very true, as it underlines the positive nature of the day, as one on which we can put the past behind us, and if we are sincere, to really make a new beginning in our lives.
Unfortunately, it is all too easy to get stuck in our ways, and ‘fall into a rut’, to the extent that we feel it is impossible to change.
The first Mitzvah that Hashem gave to the Jewish People as a Nation was the Mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh [Shemos 12], and the Posuk says: ”Hachodesh Hazeh Lochem Rosh Chodoshim”, meaning that this renewal [of the moon] is the time of Rosh Chodesh for you. Rabbi Samson Refael Hirsch, quotes in his commentary, the Midrash which points out that the Posuk is really hinting, that the word ‘Chodesh’ meaning a month, is the same word as ‘Chidush’ – meaning renewal. Therefore, the renewing of the moon is ‘Lochem’, – ‘for you’ i.e: an example of how the Jewish People should behave, constantly renewing themselves, never feeling that they have gone too far from the ‘light of the sun’, [the Torah], and that whilst one is alive one can always make a come-back.
Rabbi B Katz, London.
Appeared in the Jewish Tribune, London 13 September 2012
Hello Aaron Chaim,
Thank you for posting that absolutely beautiful Yom Kippur thought by Rabbi Katz…what a fabulous perspective to keep in mind!
Look at the Rabbenu Bachye on לא יהי-ה בהם נגף בפקד אותם why direct counting causes a plague. It separates unity so the faults can be seen. The Shunamis said I reside among my nation and don’t want to separate myself from the group, spotted and recognized to be blamed when something goes wrong,
On Rosh Hashanah, Hashem looks at us with one stare seeing us all in unity. Balak said to Bilom that you should only see the partial nation but not the whole because seeing the whole you cannot effect them. Yom Truah also means a day of friendship and unity.
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