Question
Hi. My Bible study group at Friendswood Methodist Church in Friendswood Texas is finishing up the NT book of Hebrews. The study book author has brought up some issues, and we were wondering if you could clarify. So…within this book, the issue of atonement came up. And sacrifices. He said that the sacrifices made by the Jews (Hebrews?) BEFORE Jesus (who to us is the ultimate sacrifice) were not made for atonement, and were just a symbolic act foreshadowing the blood sacrifice of Jesus. So, after all those birds, goats, bulls were sacrificed on the temple altar, God said, oh, just kidding, that didn’t count? Your sins are not atoned for? Is that what the sacrifices were for? I always thought they were atoning for their sins. And when did the animal sacrifices end? When the temple was destroyed? Or sometime after? The author of Hebrews is trying to make a point w/ his audience to quit the sacrifices already! Along w/ some other points, too. Thanks for taking the time w/ this. Look forward to your answer.  

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My mother passed away on 2 shevat. When do I finish my year mourning?

Question
I ordered a Shema Yisrael bracelet and received this instead. What does it say/mean? Barry Sherwin

Question
I did and said some awful things to my elderly aunt. I have tried repeatedly to apologize but she hangs up on me. Recently I have been doing lots of things for other people in an effort to make up for my wrongs. I volunteer teaching crafts once a week to people with traumatic brain injuries and I am scheduled to donate a kidney to a stranger. It really bothers me that she won’t forgive me, although my transgressions were great. I don’t know what else to do. I have written apologies and left messages on her answering machine. I do not know if I should continue to ask for forgiveness or accept that she simply will not forgive me.