Society of Jewish Science 4/25/25 – Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6:30pm – HYBRID

Parshah Shemini

This week’s Torah portion, Shemini, which means “eighth” refers to the “eighth day that Moses called Aaron, and his sons, and the elders of Israel” and told them to take a sin offering. (Leviticus 9:1–11:47)  This eighth day, followed the seven days of the inauguration of the Tabernacle, the High Priest (Aaron), and his sons.  G-d sends forth a consuming fire to ignite the offerings on the altar as the Shekhinah (divine presence of G-d) came to dwell in the Tabernacle.

Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, die after offering a “strange fire before G-d G‑d, which He commanded them not”.  G‑d commands the laws of kashrut, ritual purity, immersing in the mikvah, and how we are to “differentiate between the impure and the pure.”

  1. Why does the Torah direct our attention to “the eighth day” regarding the ending of the inauguration of the Tabernacle and High Priests?

  2. Does the “eighth day” have anything to do with the Shekhinah dwelling in the Tabernacle and the laws of purity and impurity?

  3. Does any of this apply to us today, in 2025?

  4. Come find out and join the discussion.

Rabbi Scott is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

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