Two Goats, The

The power of ritual is that it does not speak in abstractions – reason versus emotion, instinctual deferral rather than gratification

The scapegoat has been a laughingstock, fodder for the scoffers, since time immemorial. Even the Talmud singles out the scapegoat – from amongst all the sacrifices – as a potential source of derision.

There is another difference, which explains why Judaism is overwhelmingly a guilt rather than a shame culture.

Why two identical animals whose fate, so different, was decided by the drawing of a lot? And who or what was Azazel?