Danika Delello | Contributor to ChristianHeadlines.com | Friday,September 29, 2017

Following briskly on the heels of the Jewish New Year comes the most important holiday of the Jewish calendar. Unlike the New Year’s feast, however, the Day of Atonement is a holy day of a much more somber nature.

犹太新年之后，紧接着而来的是犹太历上最重要的节日。然而，赎罪日是更加忧郁的圣日，这并不像新年。

There are five things Christians should know about the Day of Atonement.

基督徒当知道关于赎罪日的五件事。

Yom Kippur is Hebrew for Day of Atonement; it is a holy day ordained by God in Leviticus 16 and 23.

Yom Kippur是希伯来文“赎罪日”的意思；这是神在利未记16章和23章所命定的。

Originally on the tenth day of the seventh month, Yom Kippur is now observed in the first month. It concludes the Ten Days of Awe, which began with Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year).

起初赎罪日在第七个月的第十天，现在被定在第一个月。它包含从犹太新年开始的敬畏十日。

This year, Yom Kippur spans September 29th through 30th, from sundown to sundown.

今年，赎罪日是从9月29日的日落到9月30日的日落。

The Day of Atonement was the only day on which the high priest could enter the tabernacle’s inner sanctuary and come before the ark of the covenant, according to Leviticus 16.

据利未记16章记载，赎罪日是一年中大祭司可以进入帐幕至圣所的唯一一天，这一天大祭司可以侍立在约柜前面。

First, the high priest had to observe purifying rituals and dress in special white clothing. He then burned incense before the mercy seat and offered sacrifices for himself, his family, the nation of Israel, and even the tabernacle and alter.

首先，大祭司要进行洁净礼，并要穿上特别的白色衣服。然后在施恩宝座前烧香并为自己，家人，以色列国家，甚至为帐幕和祭坛献祭。

A lottery between two goats was held. One goat was condemned as a sin sacrifice for the nation, and the remaining goat was called the scapegoat.

要在两只山羊之间做出选择。一只山羊作为国家的赎罪祭，另外一只是被放逐的赎罪羊。

With his hands held on the head of the scapegoat, the high priest confessed nation’s sins. The scapegoat was then taken to the wilderness and released, symbolizing the removal of sin.

大祭司将手放在被放逐之羊的头上，并承认全民族的罪。这只羊被带到旷野里放逐，意味着罪得释放。

Jews for Jesus, an organization for the evangelization of Jewish people, says that “by abstaining from work and indulgence, we are meant to enter a state of introspection and repentance, attending to the sins and misdeeds we have committed and acknowledging our dependence on God for redemption.”

犹太人就耶稣，一个为传福音给犹太人的机构，说“从繁忙的工作中解脱出来，我们要进入自省和悔改，承认自己所犯的罪和过犯，并依靠神的救赎。”

The Day of Atonement was a time for the Israelites to seek the Lord’s forgiveness for sin.

赎罪日是以色列人寻求神饶恕罪的日子。

During Old Testament times, that forgiveness could be found. Each year that God’s people followed his edicts, their sins could be absolved once more.

在旧约时代，饶恕可以找得到。每年人们遵从神的法令，他们的罪就可以得到一次赦免。

Now, the temple is gone and sacrifices cannot be made.

如今，圣殿不复存在了，献祭也不能实现了。

However, the Jewish attitude on this holiday is still one of optimism as they seek atonement.

但是，犹太人为寻求赎罪仍然把这一节日看得尤为重要。

According to the Jewish educational website, Chabad.org, “Instead of a High Priest bringing the sacrifices in Jerusalem, every single Jew performs the Yom Kippur service in the temple of his or her heart.”

根据犹太人的教育网络Chabad.org介绍“如今不再是大祭司在耶路撒冷献祭，而是每个犹太人在心里的圣殿上守赎罪日。”

Faithful Jews continue to set aside the day for prayer, fasting, and penitence. They abstain from working, eating, and other pleasures per rabbinical traditions in the Talmud.

虔诚的犹太人继续在这一天当中祷告，禁食和悔罪。他们不做工，不吃饭，也不参与任何其他的犹太拉比中传统中的娱乐。

Worshippers participate in a lengthy schedule of liturgy and readings, as well as a thorough confession of sins.

敬拜者们要进行很长的礼拜仪式和读经，还有全面的认罪告白。

A trumpet (or shofar) is blown to signal the end of the day, and the people feast in gratitude for God’s forgiveness.  

号角吹响的时候就意味着这天结束了，人们开始怀着感恩的心共享盛宴。

Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, can participate in the spirit of the holiday.

基督徒，不论是犹太人还是外邦人，都融入到节日的气氛中。

Jews for Jesus writes: “Many Jewish believers view Yom Kippur as a time for identification with our Jewish people, introspection for ourselves and intercession for loved ones, knowing all the while that Jesus is the One that makes us at one with God.”

犹太人就耶稣写道：“很多犹太信徒视赎罪日为识别犹太人，自我反省，彼此相爱相顾的时刻，并深知耶稣是那位使我们在神里面合而为一的。”

Following the heaviness of Yom Kippur comes the most joyful of the Jewish holidays: Sukkot. Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkotis a week-long celebration of God’s provision.

赎罪日之后就是犹太人最喜乐的节日：结茅节。也就是大家熟知的住棚节，Sukkot有一周的庆祝时间，为了记念神的供应。

Sadly, many Jewish people fail to see God’s ultimate provision in the gift of His son, Jesus Christ.

不幸的是，很多犹太人却看不见神最伟大的供应，就是祂舍了自己的独生爱子，耶稣基督。

Christ came as the final sacrifice and atoned for the sins of all mankind. For all those who believe, he is the scapegoat who removes their sins from them forever. 

基督成了最后的祭品，并为每个人的罪而献上。对那些信耶稣的人来说，耶稣就是那个替罪羊，祂永远的带走了人的罪。

整理：于姊妹