He is to lay his hand on the goat's head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the Lord. It is a sin offering. The leader performs the hand-laying and slaughter at the same location as the burnt offering — the north side of the altar for the flock animals. The identification with the sin offering animal and the act of slaughter are the same for the leader as for any Israelite offerer. The ritual equalizes the leader with the people in terms of the mechanics of offering: the nasi who leads the community stands before the altar in the same posture as the individual who follows him. Leadership does not exempt from the ritual's requirements.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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