Community Corner

PHOTOS: Yom Kippur Service Includes Nod to Ancient Ritual

Two goats visited the Temple Adas Israel's children's service on Yom Kippur.

The Children's Service at Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor was held on Wednesday and included some four-legged guests — goats. Along with singing prayers, the service moved outside to a tent that was set up in the parking lot where the two goats joined the service.

"Ancient Jews designated one the sacrificial goat (led inside the temple and sacrificed) and one was the "scapegoat" (and, yes the term originated with this ritual)," explains Soozy Miller. "Ancient Jews would "cast" their sins onto the scapegoat (touch the goat while thinking of all the bad things you did this past year) and then sent the scapegoat into the woods," she said. "So we formed a circle and touched the goat while thinking of our sins."

Thanks to Rona Klopman for sending in photos. 

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