Shmini

📜 The Story

'Shmini' means 'eighth.' The parsha begins on the eighth day, after seven days of getting Aaron and his sons ready to be Kohanim (the priests). On this day the Tabernacle was finally ready. Moses told Aaron and the people which offerings to bring, and everyone gathered to see God's presence come to rest among them.

Aaron and his sons brought the offerings just as Moses taught them. Then Moses and Aaron blessed the people, and something amazing happened. A fire came out from before God and burned up the offering on the altar, right in front of everyone. The people shouted for joy and bowed down to the ground.

But the happy day turned sad. Aaron's two oldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, brought a fire that God had not asked for. A fire came out from before God, and they died. The Torah says that Aaron was silent. He accepted what God had done.

After this, God told the Kohanim not to drink wine before serving in the Tabernacle, so they would always have a clear mind. God also taught Moses and Aaron which animals are kosher to eat. A land animal is kosher if it has split hooves and chews its cud, like a cow or a sheep. A fish is kosher if it has fins and scales. The Torah also lists birds that are not kosher, and a few insects that are.

The parsha also teaches the laws of tumah, how touching certain dead creatures makes a person or thing impure, and how to become pure again. It ends with the words, 'Be holy, for I am holy.' When we keep these mitzvot (commandments), we bring holiness into our everyday lives.