Azazel Bound Bigshot: The False Allure of Pleasure
Hette arrives home. She runs into the house, slams the front door, and shouts at the top of her voice, “Harry, quickly pack your bags, I’ve just won £10 million on the lottery.”
Harry says, “Oh my goodness, what fantastic news. Should I pack for Florida or skiing?”
Hette yells back, “I don’t care where you go, just get out of my life.”
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Hyman recently had a full medical check-up. When he returned three weeks later to learn the results of the exhaustive lab tests, his doctor said he was doing “Fairly well” for his age.
Hyman was obviously a little concerned with how that sounded, so he asks the doctor:
“You think I’ll live to be eighty, doc?”
“Well, do you smoke or drink” asks the Doctor.
“Oh no,” Hyman replies, “I’ve never done any of that bad stuff.”
The doctor then asks, “Do you eat grilled steaks or barbequed rib?”
Hyman responds, “No, I’ve heard that red meat is very unhealthy.”
“Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf…” asked the doctor.
“Nope” Hyman replies. “I’m not into that kind of stuff.’
“Are you promiscuous, do you gamble or drive fast cars?’
“The answer is no to all the above,” says Hyman somewhat proudly.
The doctor then looks at Hyman musingly and says: “Then why on earth would you want to live to be eighty?”
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Most everyone is familiar with the term “Scapegoat.” Still, not everyone is aware of its legendary Biblical origins.
Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, is devoted to atonement and spiritual rededication. The many observances of the day, such as increased and intensified prayer and the various forms of self-denial – Including a twenty-four-hour prohibition against all food and drink – are rather familiar concepts, especially among Jews. Yet, some of the ancient observances associated with this awesome day are not as well known.
When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem in all its majesty and glory, the day of Yom Kippur was observed through an intricate series of rituals performed by the high priest in the sacred House of the Lord. One of the more dramatic annual services is known as the ritual of “The two goats.”
On the Day of Atonement two indistinguishable members of the above mentioned species were brought before the High Priest, who placed a randomly-pulled lot on the head of each one. One read “To G-d” and the other, “To Azazel” – the name of a steep cliff in a barren desert.
As instructed in this week’s Torah reading, Achrei Mos – the portion that is actually read on the day of Yom Kippur – the first goat was to be solemnly sacrificed in the Temple, the second was to be taken to the cliff of its name and thrown off; dying unceremoniously before it even reached the bottom.
While the intriguing “Two goat” rituals seem shrouded in mystery, with rather little offered by way of explanation, it is not, I suspect, due to a lack of importance. It is more than obvious that any ceremony which the Torah dictates, especially one that is performed in the Holy Temple, and not just at any time but on the holiest day of the year, by the High Priest, does not lack in significance.
It is especially important to try to understand the meaning of this command in light of its strange nature and the many questions it raises, not the least of which is the issue of animal cruelty.
As with all aspects of Torah, there are no doubt many layers of insight regarding this unique and mysterious Mitzvah, albeit not as readily accessible as with some of the other Divine precepts. What I propose here is a rather basic and somewhat apparent message.
The Talmud (Yoma 62a) instructs that the two Yom Kippur goats are required to be identical in appearance, size and value. We are furthermore instructed that the two must be chosen together at the very same time. The goats had to be equal. But why would the goats need to be identical, especially when their purpose was so different?
The answer it appears is that they are intended to exemplify two sides of the same entity; the entity of course being the human species and the Jew in particular. The goat sent into the wilderness was hence called a goat “For Azazel.” The commentaries explain that the name Azazel is an acronym for “zeh le’umas zeh asa Elokim,” G-d has made one in contrast to the other. For something to qualify as a contrast it must share essential common qualities.
The lesson of the Yom Kippur goats is that there are two distinct paths for each human being to live his life, and they are as mutually exclusive as they are divergent, the path of G-d or the path of Azazel.
Every person has two possible options as to how he should live. One path is the path of Torah and spirituality. This path draws its followers closer to G-d. The second path is the path of a “Free life,” a life full of earthly indulgences and a love of this world. This path is very far from one consisting of Torah study and Divine observance.
The goat that becomes a sacrifice on the Temple altar symbolizes a life of Divine dedication and service, which ultimately culminates in fusion with its eternal Divine source, and as such, eternal spiritual existence.
Its partner by contrast, whom the Torah describes as “laden with the sins of the people,” finds its fate in a desolate, unholy place, plummeting towards complete abolition. The latter depicts the persistent deterioration and ultimate extinction of the spirit that results from the absence of Divine purpose and the inherent destruction that stems from its alternative: self-centeredness.
Of course, the sad end of our selfish lifestyle of hedonism and indulgence is not always apparent. One could only imagine the thoughts that flashed through the mind of the Azazel goat as it watched its pious partner being sacrificed to G-d on the holy altar. One could only imagine its sense of superiority as it readied itself for its upcoming romantic excursion to the exotic out-backs.
The indulgent, pleasure driven, wise guy, was no doubt musing how his poor, naïve sucker for a partner, died just as he had lived; a complete sacrifice to G-d; a pitiful Shlimazel. What a shame! What a waste of a life! But he? He was cultured and sophisticated; he was going places. He would live it up until the end! But little did he know where his life was heading. . .
Those who desire the free life – free of the “restrictions” imposed by the Heavenly creator, do not end up with the blissful life they anticipated for themselves – sadly their life is often more reminiscent of goat for Azazel.
The first path, on the other hand, though it demands effort and discipline is actually far from devoid of pleasure and reward. It is in fact rewarding in both this world as well as in the world-to-come.
Through the dramatic ritual of the two Yom Kippur goats, G-d, in His infinite mercy and kindness, wishes to wake us up from our exotic fantasies and bring us back to reality. He wishes to alert us to the unattractive end of a life devoted to selfishness, decadence and pleasure and devoid of holiness and spirituality.
Most importantly however This pivotal service teaches us is that the two paths of life are mutually exclusive. This is to say that one’s existence can either be G-d oriented and hence bound for eternal spiritual reward, or self oriented, and the corollary follows directly: Azazel.
Since the destruction of the Holy Temple, we may lack the actual goat service, we can however, certainly learn the profound message behind the Torah’s eternal command regarding this awesome ritual.
We all start out with certain similarities. We each then have decisions to make and paths to choose. Often one path seems wrought with sacrifice and pain – the other blissful and serene.
We’re often plagued with questions. Why give up pleasures? Why restrain ourselves? Why not get all that we can out of life? We each realize that it’s the struggles and sacrifices in life which reveal and build our strengths as individuals. The easy path is rarely the fulfilling one. That which seems so tempting and easy is often catastrophic; it won’t lead to the inner sanctum, serenity, fulfillment and holiness.
By our taking the proper lesson of the goats – seeing through this world of illusion and recognizing the underlying truths and choosing our paths wisely and insightfully, we will bring our purpose for creation into fruition, as well as that of the entire universe. The latter will hasten the rebuilding of the majestic Temple and the eradication of all sin from the face of the earth forever, with the coming of the righteous Moshiach BBA.
