August 26, 2021
Forgiveness and Atonement in Jewish Tradition: Philological and Philosophical Perspectives
With the arrival of Elul and Yamim Noraim comes a focus on the all-important triad of Mehilah, Selihah, and Kapparah, loosely translated as forgiveness, pardon, and atonement. This class will examine closely these terms, both what distinguishes them from one another and what holds them together, using the tools of philology and philosophy. By considering the history of these terms as well as their meaning and function, it will be possible to glean an understanding of how Jewish tradition has understood forgiveness and atonement. Particular attention will be paid to the question of what metaphor is employed in depicting sin, and what that says about the possibility of overcoming it.
