Modern Judaism teaches that Avodah (temple service) has been replaced by prayer. These prayers are repeated three times daily since (without the temple) sacrifices can no longer be offered. Atonement has become a system consisting of Torah, prayer and acts of lovingkindness.
Tovia Singer (anti-missionary, JewsForJudaism) explains:
What Tovia neglects to mention is that the sacrificial system was removed because of disobedience! It will not be restored until there is obedience; i.e., accepting Yeshua as Mashiach and receiving His atonement on their behalf. G-d never left the world without the necessary atonement -- He always provided for His faithful remnant, even when the the bulk of Israel was in disbelief.
G-d made provisions for a permanent sacrifice and high priest on our behalf through Mashiach Yeshua. Prayers are important in order for us to have a relationship with G-d --- but they were not intended to replace the need for sacrifice or our need for a priest. That would be inconsistent with the commands of Torah.
Another passage modern Judaism uses to 'prove' sacrifice is no longer required is Hosea 14:3:
Of course, at the time that was written, note that the rabbis did not declare "hey, we don't have to sacrifice anymore, we can just offer prayers instead." Sacrifices continued until 70CE when they were rendered physically impossible. Until then, it was unthinkable to stop offering them and offer prayers instead. Hosea wasn't viewed as advocation of prayer over sacrifice until after 70CE, when the rabbis read back into the text to make it fit their new doctrine. They should have been wondering what sacrificial provision G-d had for mankind now the temple was gone, instead of arriving at a "who needs sacrifice, we can just pray instead" stance.
The Hosea 14 passage is referring to the latter days when Israel 'returns' to G-d, after a long separation caused by sin. Earlier in the book of Hosea (in Hos 3:4,5) we've seen that because of sin, the people would depart from G-d and have no king or sacrifice but that afterward they would return to Him in the latter days. It doesn't say in the interim He won't require sacrifices anymore, just that because of their sin they would be separated from Him *without* a king or sacrifice. This doesn't mean sacrifice wasn't still required -- we already know from Torah that blood sacrifice was necessary; so anything written later must not abrogate an earlier command. This passage never says prayers alone are sufficient -- just that it was what the people will do when they return to G-d. Now, when G-d accepts Israel back from her idolotry... what will He then do? Send Mashiach, establish the kingdom and *restore the temple and sacrifices*... Yes? So then, the need for sacrifice was never abolished and the means will be restored.
Another interesting argument against Yeshua is that he didn't qualify as a sacrifice because he was a man and not an animal. The argument is that a human being is not comparable to an animal --- could someone please explain to me how exactly a prayer is comparable to an animal then?
Note that the passage isn't saying sacrifice is unimportant -- the passage is only pointing out which are more important. Indeed, righteousness and justice are way better than sacrifice --- the provision for sacrifice is there because man *fails* to show righteousness and justice! There would be NO NEED for sacrifice if man was righteous and full of justice! Which do you think G-d would prefer -- righteous living or sinful living requiring sacrifice? This passage never meant sacrifice was no longer necessary.
Up until 70 CE, sacrifices were offered at the temple, Israel at no point believed that prayer replaced sacrifices until the time came when temple service was rendered impossible. But after Yeshua's death up until the destruction 70 CE, G-d still made it clear to the priests that their sacrifices were being rejected.
Yeshua fulfilled the sin sacrifice, hence the crimson strap no longer turned white, because G-d was no longer accepting their sin offerings. Yeshua became the *only* acceptable sacrifice. (Though other non-sin sacrifices were still offered - Sha'ul in Acts 21:17-26; 24:17,18). Granted, if there were still a temple, non-sin sacrifices would still be offered to this day. Offerings will also be made through-out the messianic kingdom too.
But the only acceptable atonement to G-d for sin is that of Yeshua's blood. G-d's Torah never changes --- to replace commands for sacrifices with prayer is ludicrous. G-d has never left His people without a means of a proper and acceptable sacrificial atonement -- the problem is those who don't recognize it's not achieved through prayer, but through Yeshua, our sacrifice.
Do Prayers Replace Sacrifice?
Ellen Kavanaugh
"Finally, the prophets loudly declared to the Jewish people that the contrite prayer of the penitent sinner replaces the sacrificial system. Therefore, atonement for unintentional sins today is expiated through devotional supplication to the Merciful One. In fact, in Hosea 3:4-5, the prophet foretold with divine exactness that the nation of Israel would not have a sacrificial system during the last segment of Jewish history until the messianic age. Hosea 3:4-5 reads: 'For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.' "
"...turn to the Lord, say to Him Forgive all iniquity and receive us graciously, so we will offer the prayers of our lips instead of calves."
Proverbs 21:3 "To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."
"Our Rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot [For the Lord] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-coloured strap become white; nor did the westernmost light shine; and the doors of the Hekal would open by themselves." (Yoma 39b)