I would like to return to my question concerning “atonement”.
One of the cornerstones of Christian theology is that the only way to achieve atonement for sins is through the offering of a sacrifice whose blood is shed in our place. The Greek Testament makes this very clear in Hebrews 9:22 "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Is this idea consistent with the teachings of the Tanach, or do the Jewish and Christian bibles diverge on this issue? Christians generally insist that the absolute need for a vicarious blood sacrifice is rooted in the Torah, and cite as proof Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul."
http://www.jewishpassion.com/documents/ ... 17_11.html
Although one of the central tenets of Christianity is that Jesus is the sacrifice to atone for our sins the above reference to Hebrews 9:22 is incomplete:
Hebrews 9:22
22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. NAS
A better analogy is Jesus is the Christian’s Passover lamb.
In Judaism what does “atone” and “atonement” mean?