AzAzel

The Core Ritual of Atonement

To begin to understand the rituals of Yom Kippur, we have to look at the concept of atonement itself. The first use of the word Kaper isn’t about sin at all. Instead, it refers to pitch used by Noach to protect his Ark (Gen 6:14). Kaper here is both a sealant and the act of sealing. This idea of Kaper as a sealant extends. We give a half-shekel as a Kap…