Atonement

In Hebrew, the word Kaphar (כפר) is the word translated as "atonement" in most english translations. Kaphar can imply the 'forgiveness of sins', but this word has other meanings as well that should give us insight into its essence. It is from this word that we get Yom Kippur (כִּפּוּרִ), the Day of Atonement.

Kaphar can also mean "covering", as we see in Genesis 6:14, when Noah "covered" the ark, inside and out with pitch. From this, we see Kaphar can be similar to a protective surface or an interface between two things.

Accessibility

Today, there are a set of policies under an umbrella term called,  'Accessibility'. These policies apply to websites, public space, electronics, and more. A formal definition states:

Accessibility:
The design of products or services for people with temporary or permanent impairments.

A common example, if someone with a disability visits a website, certain laws ensure that the site will be accommodating, enabling the user to navigate with ease.

In a very real way, atonement is G_D's accessibility policy for humans.

Our Purpose

To understand this, we have to remember why humans were created in the first place; humankind was created to worship and serve the Creator (Genesis 2:15). In our original state, humans possessed an intrinsic physical and spiritual closeness with the Creator. Close-proximity with the Creator had significant advantages, enabling us to receive the Divine Presence - which itself enables [now considered] supernatural abilities. Among these powers are, healing, prophecy, intuition, longer lifespans, and much more.

As a result of the sin in the Garden, humans were dramatically impaired. This impairment adds a significant degree of separation between us and the Creator, and consequently, all humans are now subject to entropy and physical death. In the final redemption, our full potential will be restored, but until then, we rely upon G_D's Accessibility measures to enable us to connect with Him. If it weren't for these, we would not have much hope in life of ever living into our purpose.

Therefore, the Torah's (wisdom and commandments) were given to us as a way to make G_D more accessible. Until the final redemption, the Torah remains the designated policy for us to continue to do what we were created to do, and importantly, to remedy when we fall short.

Atonement

When many readers think about atonement as described in Leviticus, the prevailing images are of animal sacrifices and blood. This idea occludes the idea that the word for offerings indicates that one will draw closer¹ to G_D. As we covered in another article, not all sins are the same, therefore many types of offerings, (some having nothing to do with sin at all), have been given².

In the end, all a mercy from the Creator, allowing us to reconnect when we have separated ourselves from Him. In fact, many concepts in the Bible are a means to this end; Repentance, the Temple, the commandments, the Prophets, discipline, hardships, illness, and even Messiah are all agents to help unite us with our original purpose.

Finally, it is important to remember, atonement is not an end in itself, but the gift of a new beginning - a second chance to do what we have been created to do.

Notes:

¹ The word for offering "Korban", is from the same root as "closeness".

² A sin-offering, which atones for unwitting performance of transgressions punishable by karet, and a guilt-offering, which is brought for robbery and misuse of consecrated items, atone for those sins. Death and Yom Kippur atone for sins when accompanied by repentance. Repentance itself atones for minor transgressions, for both positive mitzvot and negative mitzvot. And repentance places punishment for severe transgressions in abeyance until Yom Kippur comes and completely… - Yoma 85b:7-11

³ Talmud Sandherin 105a