GEN966 “Atonement by Repentance” is a cardinal teaching. An important day in the year (Yom Kippur) is dedicated to this belief.   No vicarious savior, no miracle or sacrament can achieve for him what only his own life and conduct can do. This goal is advocated for the whole of mankind as well as for each individual. The true purpose of existence and the real nature of faith are to be found only in the dispensation of goodness and in the amelioration of suffering. To spur the Jew on this Elijah-like task of succor and reconciliation, the moral commandments have been given – sign-posts at every turn of his path, admonishing, encouraging the pilgrim on his progress.   This is what Judaism means to the thoughtful Jews – a task to be fulfilled and a mission to be borne. As a nation, Israel will survive on its own land if it displays a readiness to serve mankind and a determination to fulfill itself through ethical conduct in diplomacy and statecraft. No other guarantee for the survival of our nation is valid; no other raison d’etre of our individual lives is deserving of consideration.   [this verse; Isaiah 1:16-17, 41:1; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Micah 6:8; Psalm 15, 24:3-5; Proverbs 8:13; Job 28. ]. LEHRMAN 169-70