The name of the Parshah, “Shemini,” means “eighth” and it is found in Leviticus 9:1.
On the
eighth day, following the seven days of their inauguration,
Aaron and his sons begin to officiate as
kohanim (priests); a fire issues forth from G‑d to consume the
offerings on the altar, and the
divine presence comes to dwell in the
Sanctuary.
Aaron’s two elder sons,
Nadav and Avihu, offer a “strange fire before
G‑d, which He commanded them not” and die before G‑d. Aaron is silent in face of his tragedy.
Moses and Aaron
subsequently disagree as to a point of law regarding the offerings, but Moses concedes to Aaron that Aaron is in the right.
G‑d commands the
kosher laws, identifying the animal species permissible and forbidden for consumption. Land
animals may be eaten only if they have
split hooves and also chew their cud;
fish must have
fins and scales; a list of
non-kosher birds is given, and a list of kosher
insects (
four types of locusts).
Also in
Shemini are some of the laws of
ritual purity, including the purifying power of the
mikvah (a pool of water meeting specified qualifications) and the wellspring. Thus the
people of Israel are enjoined to “differentiate between the
impure and the pure.”
Learn:
Shemini in Depth
Browse:
Shemini Parshah Columnists
Prep:
Devar Torah Q&A for Shemini
Read:
Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play:
Shemini Parshah Quiz
