Dear S.A.: I am not surprised
your rabbi friend was not acquainted
with the passage to which you
referred, as it is not found in the
Hebrew Bible. It is found in Paul's
Epistle to the Hebrews 9:22, "And
almost all things, are by the law
purged with blood, and without
shedding of blood is no remission."
Paul is setting forth a universal
principle that should be well
understood by all who are
acquainted with the Biblical practice
of sacrifice, the offering up of the
innocent in behalf of the guilty.
However, your rabbi friend might be
confused, knowing that in Judaism
repentance and prayer are also for
forgiveness. Forgiveness in Judaism
is not conditioned simply upon
sacrifice, although with sacrifice you
are dealing with a universal and
eternal principle.
