The Second Tablets and the First Day of Atonement

After the tablets were broken Moses ascended twice more for forty days each: first to plead for forgiveness, then, from the new moon of Elul, to receive new tablets. Between the ascents came the conversation tradition treats as the summit of revelation. Moses asks to be shown the divine glory and is told that no one may see the face, but he will be placed in a cleft of the rock while it passes by. Then the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy were pronounced — the Lord, the Lord, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in kindness and truth — words that became the core of the penitential liturgy. This time Moses himself carved the stone: the first tablets were entirely God's work, the second a joint one. On the tenth of Tishrei he came down with the new tablets and a single word, salachti, I have forgiven, as you asked. His face shone so brightly that he veiled it. That day was set as the day of atonement forever.