Pesach 7+8/Parshat Shemini

The first half of Parshat Shemini is always a difficult one to read. At the height of the celebrations of the dedication of the Tabernacle, Aaron’s sons offer a ‘strange fire’ and are struck down and killed. Aaron is then instructed not to mourn or show any outward signs of grief. It appears that the show must go on. G-d also responds to the tragedy by the enigmatic remark that I will be sanctified by those close to me’, seeming to indicate that the death of Aaron‘s sons had a higher purpose. It is all very depressing and seems somewhat callous. An answer to the meaning of all this may be found in the Haftorah for the last day of Pesach. The final days of the festival generally turn their focus from the redemption from Egypt to the anticipated final redemption. That is the theme of this Haftorah, which is also the Haftorah for Yom Ha-atzmaut. Near the end, the prophet states that after the redemption the Jewish people will praise G-d starting with a sentence that states: ‘I will thank you G-d for you have been angry with me’. How are we to understand this strange statement? Some see this as a recognition that all the travails that the Jewish people have suffered throughout history are for a higher purpose. From the standpoint of the Messianic age we will understand that everything that happened was ultimately for the good and led to the redemption we now enjoy. In a similar way, maybe, G-d is telling Moses and Aaron that the deaths of Aaron’s sons were a necessary part of the dedication of the Tabernacle. While overwhelmingly tragic in the present, from the perspective of history the incident will be seen as a necessary prelude to greatness. This is a difficult concept to accept yet one vital to the Jewish world view. We are called upon to rise above our earthly perspective and attempt to see things as G-d sees them. This is indeed a source of our survival as an eternal people. As we end the festival of redemption at a time when the Jewish people are beset with great difficulty, it is an important lesson to learn. We occasionally need to rise above our present preoccupations and see things from the perspective of eternity.

 ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

Rishon	The eighth day of the inauguration of the Priesthood.
Sheni	The climax: G-d Presence is symbolised by a spontaneous fire on the altar.
Shelishi	Nadav and Avihu offer a strange fire and our killed. Aaron keeps silent. Instructions concerning priests.
Revii	Instructions concerning the left over offerings.
Hamishi	Moses is angry they haven‘t eaten the sin offering but is corrected by Aaron.
Shishi	Kosher and non-kosher animals.
Shevi’i	Laws of purity and impurity.
Haftorah	II Samuel: 6;1-7;17: David brings the Ark into Jerusalem.

 

Sidra Statistics

Parshat Shemini

·               has 91 verses;

·               is the  3rd  in Leviticus,  26th  in the Torah

·               4th  longest in Leviticus  40th  longest  in the Torah

·               has 6 pos +  11 neg = 17  mitzvot.