Parsha Shemini (Eighth)

Leviticus 9:1-11:47

This portion is called shemini (eighth) from the opening line of the text: "On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel." (Lev 9:1)

This portion includes the final rituals of the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons to serve as priests (chapter 9); the tragic fate of Nadav and Abihu (chapter 10); and the laws of kashrut (chapter 11).

Let's begin at the beginning. Why is this portion called "eighth"? What was happening the previous seven days? For that answer we turn to the end of last week's parsha. Moses is giving instructions to Aaron and his sons and in Lev 8:33 we read: "You shall not go outside the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the day that your period of ordination is completed. For your ordination will require seven days."

The eighth day was to be the beginning of Aaron and his sons' duty as priests. Eight is significant in the Bible as it is also the day on which a male baby is to be circumcised (Gen 17:12). It is the day on which a Jewish male is entered into the covenant between God and Israel. Just as a Jewish male is entered into the covenant on the eighth day, so too were Aaron and his sons entered into the priesthood on the eighth day. Eight also follows seven. And there were seven days of Creation. Those were the days of God's creating. The eighth day, however, is up to us. We take over where God left off. But didn't God create everything very good? Yes, He did. And then sin entered the world and it has been our task ever since to repair the world. This is expressed by the Hebrew phrase, tikkun olam. Every day we are engaged in a partnership with God to make this world better. We were each given different talents and abilities and it is up to us to make the most of them for the betterment of our world. But how can we better the world when it is so big and the problems are so many and varied? And the answer is to start with yourself. Make this day the eighth day. Make today the day when you decide to live a holy life dedicated to His glory. And how do we achieve holiness? Through His mitzvot. As it is said, "Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, Who makes us holy by Your Commandments." His commandments include which animals we are permitted to eat and which animals are forbidden. And the reason given is that following these laws make us holy. Lev. 11:44-45