Editing Yom Kippur (section)

===Closeness to God===
While many of the observances of Yom Kippur (such as fasting and long prayers) can be difficult, there is also a tradition in which they are interpreted positively, as indications of closeness of God. Various sources compare the observances of Yom Kippur – fasting, barefootness (not wearing leather shoes), standing (in prayer), particular manners of prayer, even the peace that exists between Jews on this day – with the behavior of angels, suggesting that on Yom Kippur Jews become like angels in heaven, purified and close to God and not limited by physicality.<ref name=angel1/><ref name=angel2/>

Yom Kippur was also unique as a time of closeness to God in the [[Yom Kippur Temple service]]. Yom Kippur was the only occasion on which the [[High Priest of Israel]] was allowed to enter the [[Holy of Holies]], the innermost chamber of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], where God's presence was said to dwell. On Yom Kippur the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies several times, first to create a cloud of incense smoke in which (the Bible promises) God would reveal Himself without being seen,<ref>{{Bibleverse|Leviticus|16:2|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|Leviticus|16:12-13|HE}}</ref> and later to offer sacrifices of atonement.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Leviticus|16:14-16|HE}}</ref>

While the encounter with God and the atonement may appear to be unrelated, in fact they are mutually dependent. On one hand, the priest is only worthy to approach God when in a state of purity, with the sins of the people being forgiven. On the other hand, only by approaching God with an intimate, personal request can God be persuaded to abandon justice for mercy, permitting the purification to take place.<ref>[https://www.hatanakh.com/es/node/33370 Atoning Before God]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.etzion.org.il/he/tanakh/torah/sefer-vayikra/parashat-acharei-mot/blood-prohibitions-book-vayikra |title=אחרי מות-קדושים {{!}} לפני ה' תטהרו |access-date=29 June 2023 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629055230/https://www.etzion.org.il/he/tanakh/torah/sefer-vayikra/parashat-acharei-mot/blood-prohibitions-book-vayikra |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the Torah, the Yom Kippur Temple service was commanded in wake of the deaths of [[Nadab and Abihu]] on the eighth day of the [[Tabernacle]] inauguration.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Leviticus|16:2|HE}}</ref> Not only was this eighth day the occasion of the Yom Kippur command, but the eighth day was also similar in its nature to Yom Kippur, both in biblical texts (e.g. the sacrifices offered on each day) and in rabbinic interpretation.<ref name=shmini>[[Yoel Bin-Nun]], [https://www.hatanakh.com/sites/herzog/files/herzog/imported/mega8_ybn.pdf היום השמיני ויום הכיפורים], Megadim 8:9-34 (1989)</ref> The purpose of the eighth day was the revelation of God's presence to the people;<ref name=shmini/>{{rp|14}} similarly, the Yom Kippur service was a unique opportunity for the people's representative to obtain closeness with God.<ref>[https://www.etzion.org.il/he/tanakh/torah/sefer-shemot/parashat-tetzaveh/%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%91-%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%D7%99%D7%94%D7%95%D7%90-%D7%95%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%94%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D הקטורת, נדב ואביהוא ויום הכיפורים]</ref>

A [[midrash]] compares the Yom Kippur prayers to a verse from the [[Song of Songs]], describing a woman who rises from bed at night to begin a romantic encounter with her lover. With each Yom Kippur prayer, it is implied, Jews approach closer to God:

{{blockquote|"I rose up to open to my beloved. My hands dripped with [[myrrh]], my fingers with flowing myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt" ({{Bibleverse|Song of Songs|5:5|HE}}) – "I rose up to open to my beloved" – this refers to ''Yotzer'' [the [[shacharit|morning prayer]]]; "My hands dripped with myrrh" – this refers to [[Mussaf]]; "my fingers with flowing myrrh" – this refers to [[Mincha]]; "upon the handles of the bolt" – this refers to [[Neilah]].<ref>[[Bahya ben Asher]], ''Kad Hakemach'', p. 122b</ref>}}

Using a similar metaphor, the [[Mishnah]] describes Yom Kippur as a wedding date, as on this date Moses returned having reestablished the covenant between God and Israel.<ref name=taanit48/> Along with [[Tu B'Av]], Yom Kippur was historically considered one of the two happiest days of the Jewish year, for on this day Jews receive forgiveness for their sins, and on this date the covenant with God was reestablished.<ref>[[Babylonian Talmud]] [https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.30b.8 Taanit 30b-31a] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108103227/https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.30b.8 |date=8 January 2024 }}</ref>