How do modern Jews repent for their sins?

Question

In the Old Testament, Jews would repent by sacrificing a blameless lamb. I don't see these sacrifices though, so how to Jews repent today?

Answer 1

You are correct; the sacrifice route does not exist any longer. Instead of sacrifices we have prayer, repentance and charity to atone for our misdeeds. I'll get you a link in a minute or two.

[edit] Right, here we go:

Biblically, the optimum means for attaining atonement consists of both animal sacrifices and sincere confessionary repentant prayer used in conjunction with each other. Traditional Judaism looks forward to the restoration of the dual system working simultaneously--animal sacrifice and contrite prayer.

The rabbis under the leadership of Yohanan ben Zakkai did not make an unscriptural substitution when they emphasized sincere confessionary repentant prayer as a means of obtaining atonement. The Bible already mandated sincere confessionary repentant prayer, as a proper vehicle for attaining forgiveness. In the biblical period atonement prayer was used with full divine sanction, with or without animal offerings (even for non-Jews-- Jonah 3:5-10).

Sincere confessionary repentant prayer is the primary biblical prescription for obtaining atonement when animal sacrifices cannot be offered concurrently. Animal sacrifices are only prescribed for unwitting or unintentional sin (shogeg)--Leviticus 4:2, 13, 22, 27; 5:5, 15 (cf. Numbers 15:30). The one exception is if an individual swore falsely to acquit G-dself of the accusation of having committed theft (Leviticus 5:24-26). Intentional sin can only be atoned for through repentance, unaccompanied by a blood sacrifice- Psalms 32:5, 51:16-19.

Giving charity is a material expression of this inner repentance that is articulated in the rabbinic formula: "Prayer, repentance, and charity avert the evil decree" (T.J. Ta'anit 2:1, 65b). This is based on the verse: "If My people, upon whom My name is called, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways; then will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Although following 70 C.E., historical conditions made it impossible to continue the sacrificial system no innovation was necessary, only a readjustment of what already existed. During the Babylonian exile the captive Israelites repented and were allowed to return to their homeland. Yet, they had no means of offering a blood sacrifice; they could only offer contrite repentant prayer. According to 1 Maccabees (cf. 1:54, 4:52) valid sacrifices in the Temple were discontinued for three years (168-165 B.C.E.). This meant those loyal to G-d could not offer personal atonement sacrifices in the Temple. During these periods of time, no Temple sacrifice was possible, and Jesus had not yet died to provide the supposed everlasting means of atonement. A grave problem arises: Did G-d leave these Jews in their sins, with no means whatsoever for atonement? Did He demand the impossible of them? The answer was given by G-d G-dself to the Jewish exiles in Babylonia, and its message echoes across the centuries: "And you shall call upon Me, and go, and pray to Me, and I will hearken to you. And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

Thus, we see that the Temple's destruction necessitated a modification of the already existing atonement process. However, this change did not include a radical alteration of its universally applied core element--sincere repentant confessionary prayer coming from the contrite heart. The direction and form of that modification was already given in the Hebrew Scriptures. The rabbis, under Yohanan ben Zakkai's leadership, did exactly what the Bible commands for such times when the full atonement service cannot be offered.

No dilemma is posed by the inability to offer animal sacrifices for atonement of sin. Emphasis is now placed on the repentant prayer component of the sacrificial ceremony. Biblically, confessionary repentant prayer can and does satisfy all the criteria necessary for attaining G-d's forgiveness even without the presence of a blood atonement sacrifice. What does the ability to use prayer alone show? The very existence of repentant prayer as a biblically proper vehicle for attaining atonement emphasizes, of itself, the fact that G-d has never left His people without the means for atoning for sin. As G-d had always permitted, and continues to do, one may come before G-d with confession and repentance in contrite prayer.

Answer 2

As a few people have noted, we repent on Yom Kippur, which is one of our most holy days. We fast for twenty-four hours, and then break the fast with a light meal, usually shared with family and/or close friends.

On Yom Kippur we are meant to think about any wrongs we have committed over the past year, and learn from our mistakes.

It might also be worth noting that Judaism has a different attitude towards sin than many other faiths; we have no concept of 'original sin' as in our view, everyone is born innocent. Also, we cannot obtain absolution from a Rabbi, the way Catholics can in Confession. We can receive forgiveness only from G-d.

Great question, by the way!

Answer 3

Jews ask for forgiveness on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur.

Answer 4

We repent by asking forgiveness from the one we've injured, receiving that forgiveness, and demonstrating that we will not sin again. Only then can we ask God's forgiveness. When we sin against God, we receive forgiveness directly from Him whenever we ask. On Yom Kippur, we pray and ask for repentance as a community. God chose us to be His holy people -- that is how we pray -- as a community. No one other than God knows each individual's sins -- we are all responsible one for the other.

Thank you for your question! I hope others will learn from it.
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Answer 5

Depends on what you call a sin.
If I hit a guy ("all you suck" is his user ID) on the head with the Old Testament, it's not a sin, it's service to the mankind.

Answer 6

I am told by one of my Jewish friends that they do so by observing all of the feasts and holy days. At the Passover Satr they always have an empty chair for Elijah, when he comes.

Answer 7

Yom Kippur i think.

Answer 8

Here, learn for yourself.

http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org
http://www.messiahtruth.org

Answer 9

They go directly to the person they have harmed like any decent person would.

Answer 10

a "blameless" lamb?
does that mean that some lambs are culpable?