Mati Kirschenbaum
This week we are reading two Torah portions, Acharei-Mot and Kedoshim. The opening verses of the former one, Acharei-Mot, discuss the appropriate way in which Aaron should comport himself as he enters the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. After the Temple in Jerusalem was built, these verses served as an instruction describing how the High Priest should enter the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem Temple once a year, on Yom Kippur, in order to atone for the sins of all the Israelites. As part of the repentance ritual a “scapegoat” was sent away for Azazel, in an act which was supposed to symbolize the absolution of the Israelites of their transgressions.
The ritual of sending a scapegoat for Azazel raises many questions. For example, we could ask who or what Azazel was. If this was Satan’s name, does it mean that the Biblical Israelites brought sacrificial offerings not only to the Eternal, but also to His adversary? We could also ask whether we should condone a ritual which exempts us from any responsibility for our actions without any effort being required on our part.
The Book of Enoch which belongs to the so called “Apocrypha” sheds some light on Azazel’s identity. In chapter 6 (verses 2 and 6-7) Azazel is described as follows:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“And it came to pass, when the sons of men had increased, that in those days there were born to them fair and beautiful daughters. And the Angels, the sons of Heaven, saw them and desired them. And they said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose for ourselves wives, from the children of men, and let us beget, for ourselves, children. And these are the names of their leaders: Semyaza, who was their leader, Urakiba, Ramiel, Kokabiel, Tamiel, Ramiel, Daniel, Ezeqiel, Baraqiel, Asael, Armaros, Ananel, Zaqiel, Samsiel, Satael, Turiel, Yomiel, Araziel.’” [English translation by M. Knibb.][/perfectpullquote]
Thus Azazel was supposed to be one of the leaders of the rebellious angels, whose rebellion is described in the Book of Genesis. According to the Book of Enoch, the other rebellious angels set out to teach humans how to cast spells. However, it was actually Azazel who surpassed all the other leaders of the angelic rebellion as far as exerting a negative influence on human fate was concerned. What follows is a description of his actions:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]„And Azazel taught men to make swords, and daggers, and shields, and breastplates. And he showed them the things after these, and the art of making them; bracelets, and ornaments, and the art of making up the eyes, and of beautifying the eyelids, and the most precious stones, and all kinds of colored dyes. And the world was changed. And there was great impiety, and much fornication, and they went astray, and all their ways became corrupt.” (Book of Enoch 8:1-2.)[/perfectpullquote]
As we can see, the Book of Enoch portrays Azazel as the angel who taught humans how to wage wars. Moreover, Azazel’s teachings have provided a tangible form for the flaws inherent to human nature – greed and vanity. Azazel was punished for his transgressions – according to some interpretations he was tied up and cast into the wilderness by Archangel Raphael, where he was supposed to wait for the end of the world.
After we’ve read the information provided by the Book of Enoch, the ritual of sending a scapegoat for Azazel becomes easier to understand. It was definitely not meant as a sacrificial offering. Quite to the contrary, according to the medieval Jewish philosopher Nachmanides the ceremony of sending away a scapegoat was in fact meant as an act of sending back to Azazel, the teacher of wickedness, the fruits of his own teachings, in an act intended to symbolize their utter rejection. This being said, Nachmanides’ explanation does not clarify whether sending away the scapegoat actually absolved the Israelites of their responsibility for the actions they had committed.
This question was addressed by another medieval Jewish thinker – Maimonides. In his theological-philosophical opus magnum, The Guide for the Perplexed (Moreh Nevukhim) he claims that the act of sending the scapegoat for Azazel was only of symbolic significance and that this ritual was supposed to motivate those participating in it to reflect on their lives. While witnessing this ceremony the participants were supposed to understand the inappropriateness of their previous actions and express their sense of guilt. Maimonides claims that only a conscious act of “sending away” – i.e. of renouncing our sins can truly relieve us of their burden. We won’t be able to free ourselves from them by simply transferring them onto another being. I believe that Maimonides would find it problematic that the ritual called Kaparot is still being performed by some ultra-Orthodox Jews. Those still observing this ritual (which takes place right before the beginning of Yom Kippur) wave a chicken over their heads while reciting verses absolving them of any responsibility for their actions. I think Maimonides would have been concerned that those partaking in this ritual might not grasp its symbolical character and treat it literally instead.
Nachmanides and Maimonides teach us that the ritual of sending away a scapegoat for Azazel is supposed to make us become aware of the necessity to renounce our inappropriate behavior. What’s important is that the description of this ritual in Leviticus chapter 16 precedes a Torah passage called the “Holiness Code”, which is actually read as part of this week’s parashot Acharei-Mot and Kedoshim. The order in which these passages have been arranged cannot be a matter of sheer coincidence. It seems as though they were meant to suggest that each of us must embark on their path towards holiness – this gold standard of ethical comportment – by first admitting to ourselves that many of our behaviors need to abandoned.
No one else can do this for us. Therefore, this Shabbat I encourage you to reflect on your lives. Who knows, perhaps already in the next couple of days you will find actions worthy of being sent to Azazel?
Translated from Polish by: Marzena Szymańska-Błotnicka
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