Palm branches, in that setting, carried a very specific meaning. They pointed to the presence of God among His people. They were tied to joy, yes, but not just any joy. They were tied to the joy of God drawing near. The hope of Sukkot looked forward as well as backward. It was not only about remembering the wilderness. It was about anticipating a day when God would once again dwell with His people in a full and lasting way.

This blog post explores the traditional Jewish understanding of how temple sacrifices atone for the sins of the world. Learn why God called Israel to be a priestly nation and how their offerings of intercession and atonement enabled Gentiles to receive forgiveness from Him. Discover what the Talmudic rabbis said about it, as well as insights from Rashi on Numbers 29:12-34. Finally, find out how we can come into right standing with God through prayer, repentance, faith and holy day observances.