Purification and Atonement Beyond moral repentance and guilt

Iyun Lemachshava English · Sep 17, 2026 · 1m

This lecture examines the philosophical structure of atonement (kapara) and purification (tahara) in Jewish thought, arguing that the Rambam's reduction of all religious ritual to ethical self-improvement is incomplete. The instructor presents a multi-tiered theory of human nature: beyond becoming a good citizen through balanced behavior, one must recognize oneself as an immortal soul, which requires specific purification practices that operate on a non-moral level. The discussion addresses how ritual purification handles residual spiritual contamination that persists even after moral…