In this week’s Parshah we come to the very centre of the Torah. According to the Massoretic tradition the two middle words in the Torah are derosh, darash - intently enquired. The circumstances surrounding this expression are tragic. At the height of the celebrations of the inauguration of the Tabernacle, Aaron’s two eldest sons bring a ‘strange fire’ onto the altar and are killed. Moses must now deal with the aftermath. As part of this damage control he enquires what has become of one of the offerings. This is the occasion for the use of this double imperative, signalling intense or forceful enquiry. We can learn much from this expression at the very heart of the Torah and the circumstances surrounding it. Firstly, it is instructive that the centre of the Torah is a question and a difficult one at that. In Judaism faith is not a matter of certainties but of questions. Moses asks what G-d’s name is, Abraham questions His promise of the Land. Throughout the Torah people do not simply take things as they are given but question why, how and where. This is of course carried on into later Judaism and is most famously expressed in the Seder night, whose whole celebration is framed by questions. Questioning in Judaism is not a sign of rebellion or apostasy but rather an integral part of a Jew’s relationship with G-d. This is especially true when tragedy strikes. While Aaron and his family are forbidden to mourn because of the joyous public occasion, we can see in Moses’ questioning and Aaron’s answer a hint to the deep pain and doubt that the incident caused in their family. It is significant that this central question in the Torah takes place at a time of tragedy, and one that may have seemed incomprehensible to those caught up in it. Judaism is a religion for adults that doesn’t gloss over the difficult questions but faces them head on. It doesn’t provide glib answers but often leaves a question hanging in the air. At the end of that most famous essay of suffering, the book of Job, G-d makes clear His displeasure at the superficial answers of ‘faith’ given by Job’s friends and instead answers Job directly with an answer that, in the end, leaves more questions to be asked. This attitude is of course of special significance as we contemplate the Holocaust, which we commemorate on Monday. While many explanations given are neither appropriate nor satisfactory, that does not mean we should not ask the questions. The opposite is true. It is by asking the difficult questions that we give tragedy meaning, even if there are no answers.
ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS
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Rishon |
The eighth day of the inauguration of the Priesthood. |
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Sheni |
The climax: G-d Presence is symbolised by a spontaneous fire on the altar. |
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Shelishi |
Nadav and Avihu offer a strange fire and our killed. Aaron keeps silent. Instructions concerning priests. |
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Revii |
Instructions concerning the left over offerings. |
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Hamishi |
Moses is angry they haven‘t eaten the sin offering but is corrected by Aaron. |
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Shishi |
Kosher and non-kosher animals. |
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Shevi’i |
Laws of purity and impurity. |
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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.
PAST PARSHAH PUZZLE
Peace only for today but freedom also for tomorrow.
The peace offering can be eaten for a day but the freewill offering for two.
PARSHAH PUZZLE
Proper footwear not enough.
WEEKLY HALAKHA
Only birds known by tradition to be kosher can be eaten.
