In case you missed it, today was the Biblical Day of Atonement- Yom Kippur. This is the holiest day on the Hebrew calendar, the culmination of the days of awe following Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This was the day that the nation's sins were forgiven. Two goats were selected to bear the sins of God's people. One was slaughtered, the other released into the wilderness [re: the scapegoat]. Might seem like a good deal for the second goat, but tradition states that they hid someone out in the wilderness where the goat was to be released to kill it to ensure it wouldn't wander back into camp.
Happy Holidays!