From Inside to Outside: Yom Kippur and Sukkot

Translated by Kaeren Fish

 

Sukkot follows almost immediately after Yom Kippur and both share in the atmosphere of Tishrei – one of soul-searching, gazing at the year gone by, atonement, and looking towards the future.  Still, as we know, these festivals are very different in essence, mood, and in the laws that characterize them.  In this article I suggest that the two holidays sit at opposite poles of single continuum: one that stretches from inwardness to outwardness.  This continuum has its source in the Torah, and it is developed further in the Oral Law.

Yom Kippur – a day of “inner service”

The service performed by the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur, as set forth in Sefer Vayikra (chapter 16),  takes place in the innermost part of the Mishkan. The chapter is introduced with the preparations that Aharon must undertake before entering the Holy of Holies, inside the curtain (vv. 2-4). The sacrifices offered on this day are an ox and a he-goat; they are prepared inside and their blood is sprinkled on the curtain (vv.14-15). One of the central services of the day is the offering of the incense: it usually takes place upon the inner altar,[1] but on Yom Kippur it is drawn even further “inward,” into the Holy of Holies itself (12-13). Atonement for the Sanctuary itself (16) is one of the main objectives of the Yom Kippur service.

There is one verse whose meaning is unclear:

“And he shall go out to the altar that is before God, and make atonement for it…” (v. 18)

Which altar is referred to here? On the one hand, if we read this in conjunction with the previous verse, it would seem to refer to the outer altar, where the burnt offerings are sacrificed. The text reads, “And there shall be no man in the Tent of Meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, until he comes out… And he shall go out to the altar that is before God…” (vv. 17-18). Likewise, two verses later we read, “And when he has made an end of atoning for the holy place, and the Tent of Meeting, and the altar…” (v. 20). All this would suggest that the altar in question is the outer one. On the other hand, the verse describes the altar as being “before God” – an expression which is used elsewhere with reference to the golden inner altar. The description in parashat Tetzaveh (Shemot 30:10) likewise suggests that the golden altar is being referred to.[2]

While the verses leave some room for doubt, Chazal are quite unequivocal in their view. It is the golden inner altar, says the Sifra, that the verse refers to:

“Perhaps the verse refers to the outer altar? (It does not,) as the verse states explicitly, ‘which is before God.’ Thus, the reference is to the inner altar.”[3]

The halakha is accordingly set down in Mishna Yoma (5:5).

Prof. David Henschke notes the distinction in this regard between the practice in the Mishkan and that in the Temple.[4] In the Mishkan, atonement was attained on the outer altar on Yom Kippur, while in the Temple, in later generations, the atonement could only be attained – according to Chazal’s interpretation of the verses – in the inner parts of the Temple. Henschke explains this by pointing out that in the Temple (in contrast to the Mishkan), “the Sanctuary and the [outer] altar are separate domains… In the Temple, the altar is separate from the Temple; it is an entity in its own right, belonging to Israel.”[5] He quotes a verse from Divrei Ha-yamim I: “… This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel” (22:1).

Indeed, on Yom Kippur, Israel (represented by the Kohen Gadol) enters the House of the King and His inner rooms.

Sukkot – the festival of the outer altar[6]

In contrast, the Sukkot sacrificial service is located on the outer altar, the altar that “belongs to Israel.” The focus has moved outside.

Once again, our starting point is the Chumash. In parashat Pinchas (Bamidbar 28-29), where the details of the daily sacrifice and the additional sacrifices are set down, by far the longest section is devoted to Sukkot. Why? On each of the seven days of the festival a different number of sacrifices is offered, and therefore each day's service must be detailed separately. In addition, the overall number of sacrifices offered over the course of the festival – seventy bullocks (in contrast to the one or two offered on other festivals, and a total of fourteen over the whole of the Festival of Matzot) and fourteen lambs on each day (in contrast to the seven offered on any other festive day) – is conspicuous in and of itself.[7]

Various explanations have been offered for the changing number of Sukkot sacrifices; but even the simplest reading of the verses shows an intensive level of activity focused around the outer altar. The emphasis has moved from the inner altar and the inner sections of the Temple, which dominate the Yom Kippur service, to the outer altar, which is the focus on Sukkot.

Furthermore, Bamidbar 29, which describes the festive sacrifices, neglects to mention any Sukkot commandments or characteristics other than the multitude of additional sacrifices, all introduced with the rather bland heading, “You shall celebrate a feast unto God, seven days.” Contrast this to the other festivals, where a central commandment that characterizes that day is mentioned, apart from the additional sacrifice: the eating of matzot, the meal offering of the bikkurim (first fruits), the day of sounding the shofar, or the affliction of the soul.

But where are the four species of Sukkot? Their glaring omission emphasizes that the character of Sukkot – at least depicted in this parasha –focuses on its sacrificial service. (In parashat Emor, too, the four species are mentioned only as a sort of “appendix” to the section on the festivals, appearing only after the summing up of the parasha. Contrast this to the other festivals, which are characterized by a specific festival commandment in addition to their sacrifices.)

Along with the above-mentioned unit in Bamidbar, another biblical unit worth mentioning in this regard is the inauguration of the Temple by King Shlomo (Melakhim I 8). Shlomo gathers the nation on Sukkot (2:65) An enormous quantity of sacrifices is offered on this occasion on the outer altar. In fact, the quantity is so great (vv. 62-63) that Shlomo extends the sanctity of the Temple outwards, to include the courtyard (ibid., 64). Admittedly, these sacrifices are not brought in honor of the festival, nor do they necessarily arise from its sanctity. Nevertheless, it would seem that the choice of timing – the festival of Sukkot, and the doubling of the duration of the festival for that occasion (ibid. 65) – are not coincidental.[8]

In the Oral Law we encounter further manifestations of Sukkot as the “festival of the outer altar.” The two last chapters of Massekhet Sukka, dealing with the Temple on Sukkot, do not discuss the sacrificial service; they focus on other activities in the Temple on this festival. Much of the discussion is devoted to the four species, and especially the lulav and arava. Other commandments described in detail include the ceremonial pouring of the water and the Simchat Beit Ha-shoeva.

In these, descriptions the outer altar plays a central role. In the mishna describing the commandment of the arava, we read:

“They would collect from there young willow branches, and place them upright at the sides of the altar, with their tops bent over the altar… On each day they would encompass the altar once… and on that day they would encompass the altar seven times.” (Sukka 4:5)

The entire ceremony centers around the altar – in both senses. The same mishna also includes a sort of ceremonial addressing of the altar:

“When leaving, they would say: ‘Beauty to you, O altar; beauty to you, O altar.’ Rabbi Eliezer teaches: ‘To God and to you, O altar; to God and to you, O altar.’”

The teaching of Rabbi Eliezer, according to which God and the altar are addressed together in the same breath, raises a question in the Gemara, which explains:

“Does one not thereby associate God’s Name with something else?... What it means is, ‘To God’ we give thanks and ‘to you’ (the altar) we express praise; ‘to God’ we give thanks and ‘to you’ (the altar) we express admiration.” (Sukka 45b)

Still, even with this clarification, the altar remains a focus of attention. This is true both under positive circumstances, when Am Yisrael observe the Sukkot commandments, and – le-havdil – under negative circumstances, when Am Yisrael sins. It is no coincidence that the last chapter of Massekhet Sukka cites the story of Miriam, daughter of Bilga, who rejected her Jewish heritage and married a Greek officer.[9] When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary, she made the altar the focus of her blasphemy:

“Our Sages taught: There was a certain Miriam, daughter of Bilga, who rejected her heritage and married an officer of the Greek kings. When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary, she stamped with her sandal on the altar, saying, ‘Wolf, wolf! For how long will you consume Israel’s money, while failing to stand by them in their time of distress!’” (Sukka 56b)

In the commandment of the ceremonial pouring of the water, too, as described further on in the chapter, the altar is at the center. In another commandment, set forth at length in the fifth chapter of the Mishna as well as in the Gemara – the Simchat Beit Ha-shoeva – the same idea of moving outward recurs: “In the night ending the first day of the festival, they would go down to the Ezrat Nashim…” – and Rashi explains that the reference is to the kohanim and leviim, who would descend the steps from the Ezrat Yisrael. In other words, in terms of the layout of the Temple, the movement is one going outwards.

So central is the role of the altar over Sukkot that there are statements in Massekhet Sukka that connect even the other commandments of the festival, which are observed throughout the country, with the sacrificial service in the Temple:

“Rabbi Abahu said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: Whoever takes up the lulav with its binding and the hadas with its wreathing is considered as though he had built an altar and offered sacrifices upon it, as it is written, ‘Bind the festival with myrtle branches, up to the horns of the altar’ (Tehillim 118:27). Rabbi Yirmiya said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, and Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon of Machoz who had received it from Rabbi Yochanan of Makkut: Whoever makes a binding for the festival through eating and drinking, is considered as though he had built an altar and offered sacrifices upon it, as it is written, ‘Bind the festival with myrtle branches, up to the horns of the altar.’” (Sukka 45a-b)

What the above suggests is that, in the Temple, Yom Kippur entails a move inward, into the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies. And only one representative of the Jewish People – the Kohen Gadol – enters into that holy place, for a holy and intimate encounter with the Shekhina, in the innermost space. On Sukkot, in contrast, there is a spreading of holiness outwards. The Shekhina and its holiness move outward, as it were, to the courtyard, the location of the outer altar. There they “encounter” the nation, and there is a celebration of the Divine Presence that takes place outside, with a ceremony of multiple elements around the altar. The focus on the outer altar does not represent worship of the altar itself as an independent entity, as the Gemara emphasizes. Rather it highlights the contrast with Yom Kippur: the fact that the encounter with the Shekhina takes place on this festival not in the innermost chambers of the King, but rather outside. The Shekhina “goes out,” as it were, to Am Yisrael, who have come up to her in pilgrimage, and they meet.

This is a new perspective in which these two festivals represent two parts of a single, all-encompassing process.  The two festivals are complementary, each expressing one end of the continuum.[10] The calendrical juxtaposition of these two festivals creates a whole picture with two contrasting elements: one, where Am Yisrael (via their representative) enter to meet God, in an atmosphere of holiness and intimacy, and the other, where the Shekhina comes out, as it were, to meet Am Yisrael, thereby creating a mass encounter of joy.

Parallels between Yoma and Sukka

A comparison of the mishnayot, beraitot and Talmudic discussions concerning these two holidays shows a number of unexpected parallels between them, both of language and content. This is unsurprising, considering the contrasting and complementary aspects of the two holidays discussed above. Not all parallels will be treated here,[11] but I shall cite two examples.

1. Concerning Yom Kippur, the Torah states: “And there shall be no man in the Tent of Meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, until he comes out” (Vayikra 16:17). This law emphasizes the intimate aspect of the encounter between the representative of Am Yisrael and the Shekhina on this day. In Yoma we learn that this law also applies to the area between the Ulam (the hall leading to the Kodesh, or outer room of the Temple) and the altar. The Amoraim discuss the specifics of this rule and how strictly it applies (Yoma 44a-b). In any event, even if this prohibition is merely a desirable stringency, or a “fence” established by Chazal in order to prevent anyone entering any further inward, the law expresses intimacy and inwardness. In Sukka, by contrast, we find an opposite law, unique to Sukkot, whereby entry into this area is permitted beyond what is allowed in the rest of the year: “Reish Lakish said: Kohanim who are physically blemished may enter between the Ulam and the altar in order to fulfill their obligation concerning the arava” (Sukka 44a).[12] Thus we find that this “in-between” area is considered part of the inner area of the Temple on Yom Kippur, when, at certain times, only the Kohen Gadol may be present. However, during Sukkot the same area is considered part of the outside area of the Temple, another example of the trend of expansion and reaching out towards the rest of the nation.[13]

2. The Yerushalmi (Sukka chapter 2, 53a) cites the opinion of R. Eliezer, who derives the laws of sitting in the Sukka during the seven days of the festival from the seven days of consecration of the Mishkan. As we know, the seven days of separation observed by the Kohen Gadol prior to Yom Kippur are likewise derived from those inaugural days (beginning of Yoma in both the Yerushalmi and the Bavli).

Yet although both Yom Kippur and Sukkot derive laws from the seven inaugural days of the Mishkan, Rabbi Yoel bin-Nun[14] points out an important contrast between Yom Kippur and the seven days of consecration. On Yom Kippur, as mentioned, the service is inward-directed. On the eighth day of the consecration of the Mishkan, in contrast, there was no “internal” service. Even the blood of the sin-offering offered by Aharon was not brought inside.[15]

Thus, Rabbi bin-Nun describes the eighth day as the day of the appearance of the Shekhina over the entire Mishkan. The Shekhina appears in fire atop the outer altar, in contrast to the usual situation in which the fire is brought by man. The appearance of the fire atop the outer altar was a revelation before the entire nation, and therefore took place outside. Rabbi bin-Nun describes Yom Kippur as a deliberate contrast to that original eighth day, an attempt to solve the problem, as it were, that resulted from the tragedy of that day (the deaths of Aharon’s two sons; see Vayikra 10). It became evident that the revelation of the Divine Presence in fire or in incense to the entire people could not be properly contained, and could have disastrous consequences. The solution, then, was Yom Kippur, when the Shekhina remained concealed in its “inner chambers,” and just one representative of the nation would enter, under strict and limited conditions, to atone for the people and to represent them in the encounter with the Shekhina.

In light of the above, we now have a better understanding of the equation between Sukkot and the days of consecration. In fact, this equation now seems quite natural, since at both times the essence of the Divine service is “outside,” in contrast to Yom Kippur. However, on Sukkot there is no real “Divine revelation,” as there was during the days of consecration, owing – as noted – to the difficulty and danger entailed by such a revelation in a mass gathering. However, after the experience of Yom Kippur, when the nation remains “behind the scenes,” far from the Shekhina itself, concealed in the inner chambers, then there is room for the other extreme: the participation of the entire nation, if not in an actual encounter with the Shekhina, then at least in proximity to it. The entire nation celebrates and rejoices “before God,” as during the days of consecration, and this mass festivity is conducted outside, so that the entire nation can indeed participate. While the Shekhina may not be revealed in a tangible way, its presence is represented by the regular fire – which consumes the many sacrifices brought by the people – upon the outer altar.

The spreading of the Shekhina on Sukkot – even outside of the Temple

So far we have focused on the festive Temple service. But Sukkot also has other aspects that are given extensive attention in Massekhet Sukka (occupying the first three chapters): the commandment of the sukka and of the four species.

Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen[16] argues that the sukka and the other commandments of the festival[17] are an expression of the spread of the Shekhina during Sukkot even beyond the outer Temple precincts, all the way – as it were – to the home (or sukka) of every individual in Israel. Much of his discussion is devoted to establishing the connection between the sukka and the Temple. I shall not repeat the excellent discussion here, but rather cite just part of his conclusion, in the section entitled, “Sukka – the spread of the Shekhina from the Temple to the home”:

“On Sukkot, the Shekhina comes to us, to our dwelling… After Yom Kippur, when the Kohen enters the Holy of Holies, God ‘repays’ us, and comes down to our sukkot, so as to enrich our lives with His Presence.”[18]

In my view, the above discussion concerning the outer altar representing the spread of God’s presence complements R. Nagen’s idea about the sukka representing God’s presence.[19]

The Chuppa and the days of celebration

Perhaps we might describe the process set forth above, starting on Yom Kippur and reaching its completion on Sukkot, in a different way, using the concepts of the well-known metaphor of the “marriage” between Am Yisrael and God. Yom Kippur represents the intimate encounter in which the groom brings the bride into his home. Sukkot, in contrast, parallels their emergence for the seven days of celebration. Thus, these two festivals represent, each year anew, the renewal of the bond of marriage between God and Am Yisrael.

In this context it is appropriate to cite, in a homiletical manner, the well-known verse: “On the day of his marriage and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart” (Shir Ha-shirim 3:11). The two parts of this verse are interpreted in different midrashim as expressing two different stages in God’s relationship with Israel. While there is no tannaitic source that explains “on the day of his wedding” as a reference to Yom Kippur and “on the day of the rejoicing of his heart” as a reference to Sukkot, there is a midrash tannaim that comes close to the idea expressed above:

“‘On the day of his wedding’ – on the day that the Shekhina rested on the Temple; ‘and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart’ – on the day that a new fire descended from on High and devoured the burnt offering and the fats upon the altar.’”[20]

The division presented in the Sifra expresses a similar idea, since “the day of his wedding” speaks of the Shekhina resting upon, or entering, the Temple. “On the day of the rejoicing of his heart” is a more public occasion of the revelation of the Shekhina outside the Sanctuary, through the descent of fire from heaven onto the outer altar.

(The Hebrew version of this article appeared in U-veChag Ha-Sukkot, ed. Amnon Bazak [Alon Shevut: Tvunot, 2012].)