T wo goats similar in every way. One chosen for slaughter and the other? Well it looks like he’s getting a reprieve — until he winds up literally going over the edge. Is there a message here for our own inner worlds?
When the Beis Hamikdash stood the Yom Kippur “goat ritual” was performed and although we only recall it in the Torah reading of this holy day to modern sensibilities it seems incredible that on Yom Kippur of all days the Jewish People should be occupied with such a ceremony.
The pesukim in Vayikra regarding the avodah of Yom Kippur tell us:
“And he shall take the two goats and he shall stand them before Hashem at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. And Aharon shall place lots upon the two goats one lot for Hashem and one lot for Azazel. And Aharon shall sacrifice the goat upon which the lot for Hashem came up and he shall make of it a sin offering. And the goat upon which the lot for Azazel came up will stand living before Hashem to atone for it to send to Azazel to the wilderness.” (16:7-10)
