For the source text click/tap here: Yoma 85
To download, click/tap here: PDF
Finally we arrive at the concept of atonement and forgiveness!!
“The ritual bath of Israel is God” Just as a ritual bath purifies the impure, so too, the Holy One, blessed be He, purifies Israel.....is it the day which purifies or the effort?
We explore a number of commentators and the metaphor of the mikveh...and Rebbe's outrageous claim "It was taught: Rabbi says: For all sins in the Torah, whether one repents or not – the Day of Atonement atones, except for one who throws off the yoke, offends regarding Torah, or revokes his carnal covenant, where if one repents—the Day of Atonement atones, and if not—the Day of Atonement does not atone."
Finally the Qumran Pesher Habakuk' diatribe against the "wicked Kohen Gadol" in the Temple!