How does one find atonement in the absence of sacrifices?

Question:

Please help me to understand. If the foundation for G‑d's forgiveness and atonement was initially the sacrifice on the altar in either the Tabernacle or later the Temple, how does one now find forgiveness and atonement since the Temple and physical sacrifices no longer exist?

Answer:

You ask an excellent question. Are we at a loss with regards to our ability to attain forgiveness from G‑d due to the loss of our Temple?

I'd first like to point out that this question isn't specific to sacrifices. There are many mitzvot that we cannot perform today because of our exiled state (see Nowadays, how many of the Torah's commandments are still in force?). Among the other mitzvot we cannot observe today are pilgrimage to the Temple for the festivals, many tithes, any many laws associated with ritual purity and impurity.

While we are deprived of these many mitzvot, G‑d gave us alternative ways to realize those benefits that these mitzvot afforded us (albeit not in their most ideal form—otherwise we could always have always made do with the alternatives.) Let us use sacrifices and atonements as an example:

Our sages tell us (Ethics 1:2) that the world stands on three pillars: Torah, avodah (literally "work," or service) and gemilut chassadim (kindness and charity). We can approach this particular issue from the perspective of any one of these pillars.

Torah – The Talmud says that one who delves into the laws of sacrifices is considered as if he has actually offered a sacrifice. By studying the laws and their meanings we achieve the atonement, and closeness to G‑d, that a sacrifice accomplishes.

Avodah – We replace the sacrificial "service of G‑d" with prayer, the service of the heart articulated in words. In the words of the Prophet Hosea (14:3): "We will render the prayers of our lips in place of the sacrifices of bullocks." As such, the three daily prayers are in place of the daily "services" and sacrifices that were performed in the Temple. On the Shabbat we add the Musaf prayer since an additional sacrifice was offered in the Temple every Shabbat. Another avenue to fill the void.

Gemilut Chassadim – Giving charity, giving of oneself, is also considered to be a method of finding atonement. One who gives his hard earned money to charity, is, in a sense, truly giving of himself; sacrificing himself for the greater good. This might be the ultimate form of sacrifice as he is really giving something of himself—money that could have been spent for his personal benefit and gain.

After all is said and done, though, your question should really remain a question. We should ask this question of G‑d every day, asking Him when He will return to us the Temple in Jerusalem so that we will once and for all truly be able to fill this void with the real McCoy.

I hope this helps.

All the best,

Rabbi Shmuel Kogan,
Chabad.org