Aaron’s Silence
Apr 9, 2010 By Eliezer B. Diamond | Commentary | Shemini
In Parashat Sh’mini we read of a great tragedy that befalls the people of Israel on the very day that it celebrates the dedication of the Mishkan, the sanctuary in the desert. Two of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, bring an unauthorized offering and, consequently, they are slain by a fire that issues forth from heaven. We are told that when Aaron was informed of his sons’ death he said nothing: “And Aaron was silent.”
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Silence and Loss
Mar 18, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shemini
One of the most enigmatic and painful moments of all of Tanakh occurs in Parashat Shemini.
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Parashat Shemini’s Lessons of Leadership
Mar 26, 2011 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shemini
Parashat Shemini provides a stark example of celebration suddenly transformed into mourning. Having completed the building of the Tabernacle and set the foundation for divinely ordained sacrifices, the Israelites are ready to offer the first sacrifice celebrating the inauguration of Israel’s priesthood. The celebration, however, is tragically interrupted by the deaths of Aaron’s eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu. What makes their ending even more shocking is that their downfall comes while they are performing their priestly deeds. How are we to understand this fateful episode, and what does this tragic mishap teach us about leadership?
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Finding Atonement After Sin
Apr 3, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Shemini
Parashat Shemini opens with the initiation of the Tabernacle altar.
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An Offering of Love
Apr 15, 2015 By Alisa Braun | Commentary | Shemini
What does a feminist reworking of Leviticus 10 sound like? The Indigo Girls song “Strange Fire” (1987) beautifully illustrates how biblical images and stories weave their way into our lives and the art we create. The song exemplifies their signature style: a second-wave feminist message wrapped in a spare acoustic sound, strong rhythms, and soft harmonies. The lyrics allude to the actions of Aaron’s sons as a way of critiquing those within organized religion who wield power and seek to silence voices of personal spiritual expression.
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Enthusiastic and Committed Judaism
Mar 19, 2014 By Danielle Upbin | Commentary | Shemini
When my husband and I named our first son Nadav, we knew that we would have some explaining to do.
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The Challenge of Nadab and Abihu
Apr 21, 2012 By Deborah Miller | Commentary | Shemini
The idea of distinctions persists throughout the Torah and in Jewish life. The word lehavdil (to separate/distinguish) occurs in the first act of Creation—“God separated/distinguished between light and darkness.” The theme continues into this week’s parashah, Shemini.
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The Liberated Bird: Let’s Talk Turkey
Apr 17, 2015 By Anne Lapidus Lerner | Commentary | Shemini
The main course at my Thanksgiving dinner—and perhaps at yours as well—is determined by a few verses in this week’s parashah, Shemini. After all, Leviticus 11 defines which living things are fit for kosher consumption, granting it a major impact on the Thanksgiving menu of kosher aviavores.
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