The two goats

Synopsis

We learn that the two goats were parted and one remained for the portion of God. On that day the priest offered sacrifices for his own sins and then for the sins of all the people.

Esau Goats Hebrew Letters Jacob Other Side Priests Sin

132. Rabbi Shimon said, "And Jacob said to Rivkah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man" (Beresheet 27:11). What is this statement hinting at? Surely, Esau was a hairy (Heb. sa'ir) man, of him that is called goat (Heb. seir), WHICH IS THE OTHER SIDE, as it comes from the same aspect. "And I am a smooth (Heb. chalak) man," MEANING a man WHO WAS GIVEN (HEB. NECHELAK) from what He allotted (Heb. chalak) to the ministers of the other nations, as it is written, "Which Hashem your Elohim has allotted to all the nations" (Devarim 4:19) and, "For Hashem's portion (Hbe. chelek) is His people" (Devarim 32:9). Furthermore, "a smooth man" MEANS the two goats WERE PARTED and there remained one PORTION, which the priest divided (Heb. chilek). One went to the portion OF JACOB and one for the Holy One, blessed be He. Why? In order that THE GOAT carry upon its shoulders all Jacob's sins, as it is written, "And the goat shall bear upon it all their iniquities (Heb. avonotam)" (Vaykira 16:22). THESE COMPRISE THE LETTERS, Avonot (Eng. 'sins') tam (lit. 'a perfect man'), REFERRING TO THE SINS OF JACOB KNOWN AS THE PERFECT MAN.

132. תּוּ אָמַר ר' שִׁמְעוֹן, וַיֺּאמֶר יַעֲקֺב אֶל רִבְקָה אִמּוֹ הֵן עֵשָׂו אָחִי אִישׁ שָׂעִיר וְאָנֺכִי אִישׁ חָלָק. מַאי קָא רְמִיזָא, אֶלָּא וַדַּאי עֵשָׂו אִישׁ שָׂעִיר, הוּא מֵהַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי שָׂעִיר, דְּהָא מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא אָתֵי. וְאָנֺכִי אִישׁ חָלָק: גְּבַר מֵהַהוּא דְּפָלִיג לְכָל שְׁאָר עַמִּין רַבְרְבִין מְמָנָן. דִּכְתִּיב אֲשֶׁר חָלַק יְיָ' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אוֹתָם, וּכְתִיב כִּי חֵלֶק יְיָ' עַמּוֹ וְגוֹ.' תּוּ אִישׁ חָלָק, מִתְּרֵי שְׂעִירִים וְאִשְׁתְּאַר חֲדָא. דְּכַהֲנָא פָּלִיג לֵהּ, חַד לְחוּלָקֵיהּ, וְחַד לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. אֲמַאי. בְּגִין דְּיַטְעִין עַל כַּתְפּוֹי כָּל חוֹבוֹי דְּיַעֲקֺב, דִּכְתִּיב וְנָשָׂא הַשָּׂעִיר עָלָיו אֶת כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתָם, עֲוֹנוֹת תָּם.

Crowns Door Merit Prayer Priests Purification Sacrifice Sin

133. We have learned that numerous doors opened before Yisrael on this day to receive their prayers. How fortunate is the lot of Yisrael that the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to give them merit and to purify them. This is what the verse says, "For on that day will He forgive you..." On this day, the priest is bedecked with numerous crowns. On this day, the service of the priest is full of glory and far greater than on any other service. Everyone was given a share of these sacrifices to the Holy One, blessed be He. On this day Chesed is crowned in the world by the priest, who offers sacrifices for the sins of the people. First, HE OFFERED for his own sins and afterward for the sins of the people. He offered burnt offerings for himself and the nation. We have already established these matters.

133. תָּאנָא, בְּהַהוּא יוֹמָא כַּמָה פִּתְחִין פְּתִיחָן לָקֳבְלֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְקַבְּלָא צְלוֹתֵיהוֹן. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעָא לְזַכָּאָה לוֹן, וּלְדַכְּאָה לוֹן, הה"ד כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר וְגוֹ.' בְּהַאי יוֹמָא אִתְעֲטָּר כַּהֲנָא בְּכַמָּה עִטְרִין. בְּהַאי יוֹמָא פּוּלְחָנָא דְּכַהֲנָא יַקִּירָא וְרַב מִכָּל פּוּלְחָנִין. לְכֺלָּא יָהַב חוּלָקָא בְּאִינּוּן קָרְבְּנִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. בְּהַאי יוֹמָא אִתְעֲטָּר חֶסֶד בְּעָלְמָא עַל יְדָא דְּכַהֲנָא, מְקָרֵב קָרְבְּנִין עַל חוֹבֵיהוֹן דְּעַמָּא. עַל חוֹבֵיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר עַל חוֹבֵיהוֹן דְּעַמָּא. מְקָרֵב עִלָּוָון עָלֵיהּ וְעַל עַמָּא וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלֵּי.