What About Sin?

One question I get asked on a frequent basis is, "Do Jews offer sacrifices today?"

For the most part, the practice of sacrifice stopped in the year 70 C.E., when the Roman army destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, the place where sacrifices were offered. The practice was briefly resumed during the Jewish War of 132-135 C.E., but was ended permanently after that war was lost.

The next question I get is the follow-up question, "How are your sins forgiven?" 

The answer comes in two parts:

        1.  The sacrificial system was only for unintentional sins or mistakes.  It had nothing to do with intentional sins.

        2.   Forgiveness is obtained through repentance, prayer and tzedakah (charity).

In Judaism, prayer has taken the place of sacrifices. In accordance with the words of Hosea, we render instead of bullocks the offering of our lips (Hosea 14:3)

While dedicating the Temple, King Solomon also indicated that prayer can be used to obtain forgiveness (I Kings 8:46-50).

The final question I get is, "Isn't blood sacrifice needed for forgiveness?"

The answer is, "No".  Although animal sacrifice is one means of obtaining forgiveness, there are non-animal offerings as well, and there are other means for obtaining forgiveness that do not involve sacrifices at all.

The Biblical book of Jonah tells of an entire community condemned to destruction that was forgiven when they simply repented and fasted, without ever offering any sacrifice, blood or otherwise. (Jonah 3)