Q: Since the destruction of the Temple, what has happened concerning sacrifices/offerings for the forgiveness of sins? Are the Jewish people without any means of obtaining forgiveness and thereby their relationship with God?
A: That's a good question! The Torah commands sacrifice, but it also demands they be done only "at the site that (GOD) would choose" (Jerusalem") How were the people to fulfill the Torah when there was no temple? The rabbis came to the conclusion that their prayers and righteous living would have to substitute for the sacrifices they could not complete. Using Deuteronomy 11:13, they pointed out that there is such a thing as "service of the heart." In Hosea 6:6, the prophet proclaims that God desires mercy, not sacrifice.
Special prayers are included in the synagogue service and private prayers to remember the sacrifices. Other traditions also remain as reminders, such as the shank bone on the seder plate as a reminder of the Passover sacrifice, and the custom of tossing a pinch of the Sabbath challah dough into the fire before baking. Nevertheless, it was always assumed that eventually HaShem would restore Israel and the temple could be rebuilt and the sacrifices resumed.
For those who believe in Yeshua, the loss of the temple is not a problem, since Messiah's sacrifice has fulfilled that need forever. (Hebrews 10:10)
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