Parashat Shemini

Revision as of 09:07, 24 March 2015

Parashas Shemini is the third parsha in the Book of Vayikra. It contains 91 pesukim. For the Haftora, King Dovid's bringing of the Aron is read.

Eighth Inauguration Day

The eighth inauguration day took place on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Moshe instructed Aharon regarding the day's special schedule in the presents of the Elders, thereby conveying to them that it was by the express command of Hashem that Aharon was entering into the Kehunah Gedolah, preventing them from claiming he entered on his own accord.^[1] Aharon was to sacrifice the following unblemished animals on that day...

Personal Sacrifices

1. Korban Chatas - a bull calf as a sin offering. This informed Aharon that Hashem had granted him atonement through this sacrifice for his role in the incident of the golden calf.^[2]
2. Korban Olah - a ram as a burnt offering

National Sacrifices

1. Chatas - a he goat as a sin offering
2. First Olah - a calf in its first year, as a burnt offering
3. Second Olah - a lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering
4. First Shilamim - an ox as a peace offering
5. Second Shilamim - a ram as a peace offering
6. Mincha - a meal offering mixed with oil

Animals for these sacrifices were brought and placed in front of the Ohel Moed and the entire Nation gathered at this location. These unique one time sacrifices were mandatory on that day and served the special task of drawing down the Shechina into the Mishkan.^[3]

Aharon's Services

Throughout all seven days of the investitures, Moshe had erected the Mishkan, performed its services then dismantled it daily, yet the Shechinah did not come to rest in it. This brought humiliation to the Jews who thought all their efforts to bring down the Shichina and prove they were forgiven for the sin of the golden calf had been in waste. Moshe responded that his brother Aharon was more worthy and important than him and through his offerings and services the Shechinah would descend to dwell amongst the Jews. Which would also prove that Aharon had been selected for the position of high priest by Hashem.

Aharon was bashful and afraid to approach the altar^[4] out of humility and fear for the honor of the Shechina.^[5] Moshe strengthened him, telling Aharon that he had been chosen to perform these tasks.^[6] He then commanded him to offer the sacrifices, which were to serve as an atonement for himself and the Nation. First Aharon offered the daily morning Korban Tomid, proceeding only after this with the other sacrifices.^[7]

Aharon's Sacrifices

Chatas - Aharon approached the altar and slaughtered his sin offering calf. His sons collected the blood brought it to him, Aharon dipped his finger into the blood, placing some on the horns of the altar, he then poured the remaining blood at the base of the altar. He then took the fat, kidneys, and diaphragm with the liver and burnt it on the altar. Aharon then burnt the remaining flesh and hide in a fire outside the camp. This burning was an exception to the general rule of all external sin-offerings, whose blood is sprinkled on the outside altar are eaten by the kohanim. It was only here and by the 'ox sin-offerings' offered during the 'seven days of inauguration' that this exception was made, at the express command of Hashem.^[8]

Olah - Aharon slaughtered the burnt offering. His sons presented him the blood which he proceeded to dash around the altar. They then presented the dissected burnt offering to Aharon in its prescribed pieces, including the head and he burnt these on the altar. Aharon washed the innards and the legs, and burnt them on the altar as well.

Public Sacrifices

Chatas - Aharon brought the nation's 'sin offering goat', slaughtered it, and sacrificed it according to the 'laws of sin-offerings',^[9] just like he did with his own 'sin offering calf'.^[10]

Olah - Aharon then brought forward the burnt offering and prepared it according to the laws of a voluntary burnt-offering described in Parashat Vayikra.

Mincha - Aharon brought forward the meal offering, filled his palm with it using the 'Kmitza' technique,^[11] and burnt it on the altar.

Shilamim - Aharon continued to slaughter the ox and ram, the nations's peace offering. His sons presented him the blood and he dashed it around on the altar. They proceeded to presented him the fats from the ox and ram, including: the tail, the fat that covers the innards,^[12] the kidneys and the diaphragm with the liver. They handed Aharon the portions with the fats placed on top of the breasts, whose order now inverted due to the exchange of hands, leaving the breasts on top of the fats in his hands.^[13] Aharon did a 'Tenufa' waving and handed back the portions, once again inverting their order leaving the fats above the breasts. He then proceeded to burn these on the altar.

Priestly Blessing

Aharon lifted up his hands towards the Jews and blessed them with the Birchat Kohanim. He then descended from the altar after having sacrificed the sin offerings, burnt offerings and peace offerings.

Second Blessing

Moshe took Aharon into the Ohel Moed to teach him the procedure for burning the Ketoret incense. Additionally, Aharon saw that all the sacrifices had been offered and all the procedures had been performed, yet the Shechinah had not descended for Jews. He was distressed, blaming himself, saying the Shichinah had not descended since Hashem was angry at him. He then accused Moshe of putting him in this embarrassing predicament, having announced to all the Jews that the Shechina would descend in merit of Ahraon's services. Right away Moshe took Aharon into the Ohel Moed, where aside for reviewing the burning of the Ketoret, they also prayed for mercy that the Shechinah should descend.

Moshe and Aharon came out and blessed the Jews as a continuation of their prayers, saying; “May the pleasantness of Hashem, be upon us", meaning; "May it be Hashem’s will that the Shechinah rest in the work of your hands.”

Descent of Shechinah

After the second blessing, the glory of Hashem appeared to all the people and a heavenly fire descended onto the Mizbeach. The Jews fell on their faces, giving praise to Hashem.

Other Sacrifices

Aside from the sacrifices of Aharon and the Nation, the daily Korban Tomid was offered that day, as well as the Rosh Chodes goat offering. Additionally it was the first day of the Korban Nasim and Nachshon ben Aminadav brought his offering.

Death of Nadav and Avihu

Nadav and Avihu offer a self-decided Ketoret incense and their souls were burnt. Moshe tells Aharon, this incident was foretold by Hashem and he accepts the ruling with silence and love. Moshe commands Mishael and Eltzaphan to remove the bodies and Elazar and Itamar to refrain from mourning.

Foreign Fire

Excited by the divine fire that had descended, Nadab and Abihu, each took a pan with fire and placed incense upon it, bringing this foreign fire that Hashem had not commanded into the Kodesh HaKodashim section of the Mishkan.

Calculations

Nadav and Avihu interpreted the command "and the sons of Aharon shall place fire on the altar" as instruction to continue and bring mundane fire despite a descent of divine fire.

Offense

Nadav and Avihu were on an awesomely high spiritual level and were constantly in a state of complete devotion to Hashem, but according to their great level, committed a number of faults that for them were considered offences. Aside from these offences they were completely clean from faults. It is for this reason that each of the four times Nadav and Avihu are mentioned in the Torah, their offence is mentioned with them, to rebuttal any claim saying they possibly had other hidden sins.

Ruling Before Master

A student that issues a Halachic ruling in the presents of his master, is deserving of death. Therefore, despite their calculations containing validity, Nadav and Avihu did not have the right to reach an action producing conclusion on their own, without geting a ruling from their master Moshe, who was located in the vicinity.

Alcoholic Influence

Nadav and Avihu entered the Ohel Moed after having drunk wine. In order to prevent this from occurring again, Aharon was informed of this prohibition immediately following their death.

Entering Kodesh HaKodashim

Nadav and Avihu entered the 'holy of hollies', which even the Kohen Gadol is only allowed to enter one day a year, on Yom Kippor.

Uncommanded Sacrifice

Nadav and Avihu innovated their own sacrifice that was never commanded by Hashem.

Strange Fire

Nadav and Avihu took a simple mundane flame from the fireplace.

Lack of Consul

Not only did they not seek consul from their teacher Moshe, or father Aharon, they did not seek consul from each other and carried out the act without discussing it first one with the other.

No Marriage

Nadav and Avihu were great, awesome and holy tzadikim that were constantly in a state of devotion to Hashem in extreme happiness and joy and did want to leave this state even for a short time. Part of the tikkun of marriage is to take the misery and suffering that is generally attached to the woman and to turn it into happiness. Therefore Nadav and Avihu chose not to marry since they did not wish to lower themselves to the task of turning this misery into joy. This however was a flaw since complete happiness and holiness can only be attained when one is able to take the actual misery and sadness and turn that into joy.

Part of the rectification and unifications brought about by the Ketoret service involve raising the misery and turning it into happiness. This task of raising the holiness from the depths of the Klipot is only possible for a married individual with constant experience in raising the misery attached to his wife and turning it to joy. Since Nadav and Avihu were flawed on this aspect, they failed to properly perform the part of the meditations and service that involved raising the misery.

When someone attempts to raise elements of holiness from the depths of the Klipot and he fails to do so due to his shortcomings, then instead they strengthen and attack that individual. When Nadav and Avihu failed to raise this element of misery from the depth of the Klipot during their Ketoret ritual, they were attacked and overcome by a strengthened overwhelming misery that is an element of death. This allowed death to gain hold of them and led to their passing.

Yichus

Nadav and Avihu never married and did not have any children since they did not consider any woman worthy for them. This was especially true considering their great yichus as their uncle Moshe held position of 'king', their other uncle from their mother's side, Nachshon ben Aminadav was the leading Nassi, their father Aharon was high priest and they themselves were deputy priests. Had there been a worthy woman it might not have required them to descend much from their level to enter the existence of marriage.

Anticipating Leadership

When Hashem commanded Moshe and Ahron to ascend to Mount Sinai he instructed Nadav and Avihu to follow behind them. Nadav and Avihu thought in their hearts "when will these two elders pass away and me and you will gain leadership over the public" and even made a commented alluding to that.

Eating and Drinking

On Mount Sinai during the great revelations, Nadav, Avihu and the Elders gazed too much at the Shichina and that could be comparable to eating and drinking. Accordingly they were worthy of being punished that day but Hashem did not want to spoil the celebration of the Torah, which is comparable to the marriage of His daughter. Instead Hashem deferred the punishment to the day of His personal celebration, the inauguration of the Mishkan.

Strings of Fire

Two strings of fire emerged from the Kodesh Hakodash, splitting into four strings. Two entered the nose of Nadav and two the nose of Avihu, one string per nostril and burnt their souls. As they were dying, angles pushed them out towards the Azarah, collapsing outside or close by.

Aharon's Silence

Aharon was troubled, wondering how this sin had fallen upon himself and his sons. Moshe came to comfort him and told him how Hashem had told him earlier that he would sanctify the Mishkan through his 'honored ones'. Moshe had been certain that this was prediction of either him or Aharon passing away. Now they had retroactively found out this was a reference to Nadav and Avihu and the Mishkan had been sanctified through them, showing they were indeed greater then them. Once Aharon saw that his sons were cherished by Hashem, he accepted the decree with love and silence.

Sanctification Through Death

Removal and Burial

Nadav and Avihu were buried by Mishael and Eltzaphan, their first cousins. Although ordinary kohanim are allowed to become impure through handling the deceased of their immediate family and it is only the kohen gadoel that is forbidden, here there was a special one time instruction that Elazar and Itamar should refrain from doing so.

Prohibition of Drunkenness in Temple

Hashem speaks directly to Aharon revealing to him the prohibition of drinking before performing services in the Beit Hamikdash or Mishkan as well as before issuing a ruling. Ahron merited this personal prophecy as a reward for accepting the death of his children with silence and love.

Burnt Rosh Chodesh Goat

Aharon and his two remaining sons eat the Mincha and the meat of the Shilamim offering but burnt the Rosh Chodesh goat offering. They did not want to eat it due to their state of 'Aninus' for Nadav and Avihu. Moshe become upset by this, until Aharon explains that the logic of their actions was based on the additional holiness of the Korban Rosh Chodesh that was commanded for all generations as opposed to the one time inaugurational sacrifices which were less holy and could therefore still be eaten in their state of 'Aninus'.

Kosher Animals

It is a Mitzva to understand the differences between the permitted and the forbidden animals and this is how the Jews sanctify themselves.

Mammals

Signs of a kosher animal

• Split hooves - Hooves of the animal are split reaching the bottom of its leg.

• Chews its cud - Animal swallows food, then regurgitates it and chews it once again.

Non kosher land animals include; camels, rabbits, hares, and pigs.

Fish

Signs of kosher fish are fins and scales.

Birds

Torah lists 24 non-kosher bird species basically all predatory and scavenger birds. These include; eagles...

Locust

They have four signs; four legs, thighs, additional pair of smaller legs in front of body, four wings that cover most of the body. The following species of locust are kosher for eating; Arbeh, Salam, Chargol and Chagav.

Shiratzim

The following Shiratzim are forbidden to eat; mouse, turtle....

Shiratzim that creep on their stomach or with four or more legs are forbidden to eat.

Laws of Purity

Carcasses of impure animal impurify a person who touches or carries them until sunset, assuming he immerses in a Mikva before then. Clothing of an impure person also turn impure and require immersion.

Carcasses of pure animals impurify a person and his clothing through eating, touching or carrying them, until sundown assuming he immerses in a Mikva before then.

Carcasses can also impurify vessels including ovens and the food inside them. Vessels or garments created from leather or wood can be purified through immersion in the mikva. Pottery can not be purified and once impure must be broken.

Streams and Mikvas can never become impure but a person sitting in them who touches a carcass, can.

Anything attached to the ground can not become impure until it is detached and becomes wet with the consent of its owner.

References

1. ^ Rashi
2. ^ Rashi
3. ^ Rashi
4. ^ Rashi
5. ^ Rashi Kipshuto
6. ^ Rashi
7. ^ Rashi
8. ^ Rashi
9. ^ Rashi
10. ^ Rashi
11. ^ Rashi
12. ^ Rashi
13. ^ Rashi