
How do we make choices? Are we prepared? These are themes in this parsha. There were two identical goats, one was to be a holy sacrifice and the other taken to the desert to be thrown to a symbolic negative image called Azazel. How to decide? Often we can’t make clear distinctions. We need help. And on Yom Kippur the high priest, donned only in white linen, was confronted with stepping into the holiest space and often doubted himself – was he ready to light the incense, represent others, and step into the unknown? And on this day he uttered the essence of the tetragrammaton while other priests shed tears and fell on their faces blessing The Creator, hoping that we will all have guidance in making our challenging decisions and stepping up and into the mystery of life.