Parshas Acharei Mos: A Tale of Two Goats

“And Aharon should place lots on the two goats; one lot ‘For Hashem,’ and the other lot ‘For Azazel.’ ” (Vayikra 16:8)

Part of the Yom Kippur avodah in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash was to choose two identical twin goats, use one for a korban for Hashem and send the other off a cliff for Azazel.

If they were twin goats, what determined which one went where?

The Torah tells us that the selection was determined by lots. Thus, the fate of each goat was determined not by man, but by Hashem.

The question is, if the goats were identical, why did it make a difference which goat went to Hashem and which one went to Azazel?

Perhaps one was flawed, albeit invisibly, and therefore was chosen for Azazel? After all, could the two goats really be identical in every way? (Rabbi Pinchas Winston, Torah.org)

My friend Riva was on her way to her son’s PTA. “Wish me luck,” she said.

“C’mon,” I answered her. “This is Mendy you’re talking about! Tonight’s your nachas night! Enjoy it!”

Riva sat in the rebbi’s classroom, her heart glowing as the rebbi went on and on about Mendy’s hasmadah, Mendy’s middos, Mendy’s brilliance…. PTA like this was a pleasure.

“He’s an esrog mehudar!” said the rebbi with exuberance. “Ashrei yoladeto! Such a boy can only come from a stellar home! You and your husband have done an incredible job with him. Tell me, is he your oldest?”