Torah Portion of the Week

Shemini שמיני

Leviticus 9:1–11:47

Parshat Shemini ('Eighth') opens on the climactic eighth day after the seven-day priestly ordination. Aaron offers the inaugural sacrifices and, together with Moses, blesses the people — a divine fire then descends and consumes the offerings on the altar, and the entire nation shouts in awe. But joy turns to tragedy: Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu bring an 'alien fire' that God did not command, and they are consumed by fire from before the Lord. Moses instructs Aaron not to mourn publicly, and God commands the priests never to enter the sanctuary while intoxicated. The second half of the parsha transitions to the dietary laws of kashrut — which animals, fish, birds, and insects may and may not be eaten — concluding with the call: 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'

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1 of 7

The Eighth Day — Inaugural Offerings

יום השמיני — קרבנות החנוכה

Leviticus 9:1–9:16

On the eighth day, Moses summons Aaron and the elders. Aaron is told to bring a calf as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering. The people are to bring a he-goat sin offering, a calf and lamb as burnt offerings, an ox and ram as peace offerings, and a meal offering. Aaron offers his sin offering and burnt offering, slaughtering, sprinkling blood, and burning the fat on the altar, exactly as commanded.

2 of 7

The Glory of the Lord Appears

כבוד ה' נראה

Leviticus 9:17–9:24

Aaron completes the meal offering, the peace offerings, and the people's sacrifices. He lifts his hands and blesses the people, then descends from the altar. Moses and Aaron enter the Tent of Meeting; when they come out, they bless the people together, and the Glory of the Lord appears. Fire comes forth from before the Lord and consumes the burnt offering and fats on the altar. All the people see it, shout in joy, and fall on their faces.

3 of 7

The Death of Nadav and Avihu

מות נדב ואביהוא

Leviticus 10:1–10:7

Aaron's two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu, each take a fire-pan, place fire and incense upon it, and offer before the Lord an 'alien fire which He had not commanded them.' Fire comes forth from the Lord and consumes them, and they die before the Lord. Moses says to Aaron: 'This is what the Lord meant when He said: Through those near to Me I will be sanctified.' Aaron is silent. Moses calls Aaron's cousins to carry the bodies outside the camp and commands Aaron and his remaining sons not to rend their garments or leave the sanctuary, lest they too die.

4 of 7

Laws for Priests — Wine and Distinctions

איסור שתיית יין לכהנים

Leviticus 10:8–10:15

God speaks directly to Aaron — one of the rare instances — commanding that neither he nor his sons may drink wine or intoxicating drink before entering the Tent of Meeting. The priests must distinguish between the holy and the profane, the impure and the pure, and must teach the children of Israel all the statutes. Moses then instructs Aaron and his remaining sons regarding the consumption of the meal offering and the breast and thigh of the peace offerings.

5 of 7

Moses and Aaron — The Sin Offering Dispute

ויקצוף משה על אהרן

Leviticus 10:16–10:20

Moses discovers that the sin offering goat was burned entirely rather than eaten as prescribed. He becomes angry with Aaron's surviving sons, Elazar and Ithamar. Aaron responds: after what has befallen him today, would it be right to eat the sin offering? Moses hears this and accepts the answer. The Talmud says Moses acknowledged that Aaron was correct and that he himself had forgotten the law in his grief.

6 of 7

Kosher Animals, Fish, and Birds

בהמות, דגים ועופות כשרים

Leviticus 11:1–11:32

God speaks to Moses and Aaron together, laying out the dietary laws. Among land animals, only those that both chew their cud and have split hooves may be eaten — the camel, hyrax, hare, and pig are specifically excluded. Among water creatures, only those with both fins and scales are permitted. A list of twenty forbidden birds is given (mostly birds of prey and scavengers). Among winged swarming things, only certain locusts with jointed legs may be eaten. Contact with the carcasses of forbidden animals causes ritual impurity.

7 of 7

Impurity from Carcasses — The Call to Holiness

טומאת שרצים — קדושים תהיו

Leviticus 11:33–11:47

The laws of impurity from contact with carcasses of swarming creatures are detailed: earthen vessels that receive them must be broken, and food or water in such vessels becomes impure. Springs and cisterns remain pure. The parsha concludes with a powerful declaration: 'I am the Lord your God; you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not make yourselves impure with any swarming thing.' The dietary laws serve to distinguish between the pure and the impure, the edible and the forbidden.

Prophetic Reading

Haftarah הפטרה

II Samuel 6:1–7:17

שמואל ב

David brings the Ark to Jerusalem with joy, but Uzzah dies for touching it — echoing the deaths of Nadab and Abihu for offering unauthorized fire. Both teach reverence before God's holiness.

Full Text

Parshat Shemini

Leviticus 9:1–11:47 · 91 verses

First Aliyah

ראשוןLeviticus 9:1–9:16

Chapter 9

פרק 9

Layout

Language

Layout

Language

1 וַֽיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי קָרָא מֹשֶׁה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו וּלְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

2 וַיֹּאמֶר אֶֽל אַהֲרֹן קַח לְךָ עֵגֶל בֶּן בָּקָר לְחַטָּאת וְאַיִל לְעֹלָה תְּמִימִם וְהַקְרֵב לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָֽה

3 וְאֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל תְּדַבֵּר לֵאמֹר קְחוּ שְׂעִיר עִזִּים לְחַטָּאת וְעֵגֶל וָכֶבֶשׂ בְּנֵי שָׁנָה תְּמִימִם לְעֹלָֽה

4 וְשׁוֹר וָאַיִל לִשְׁלָמִים לִזְבֹּחַ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה וּמִנְחָה בְּלוּלָה בַשָּׁמֶן כִּי הַיּוֹם יְהֹוָה נִרְאָה אֲלֵיכֶֽם

5 וַיִּקְחוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה אֶל פְּנֵי אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וַֽיִּקְרְבוּ כׇּל הָעֵדָה וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָֽה

6 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה תַּעֲשׂוּ וְיֵרָא אֲלֵיכֶם כְּבוֹד יְהֹוָֽה

7 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶֽל אַהֲרֹן קְרַב אֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַעֲשֵׂה אֶת חַטָּֽאתְךָ וְאֶת עֹלָתֶךָ וְכַפֵּר בַּֽעַדְךָ וּבְעַד הָעָם וַעֲשֵׂה אֶת קׇרְבַּן הָעָם וְכַפֵּר בַּֽעֲדָם כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָֽה

8 וַיִּקְרַב אַהֲרֹן אֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיִּשְׁחַט אֶת עֵגֶל הַחַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר לֽוֹ

9 וַיַּקְרִבוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן אֶת הַדָּם אֵלָיו וַיִּטְבֹּל אֶצְבָּעוֹ בַּדָּם וַיִּתֵּן עַל קַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאֶת הַדָּם יָצַק אֶל יְסוֹד הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ

10 וְאֶת הַחֵלֶב וְאֶת הַכְּלָיֹת וְאֶת הַיֹּתֶרֶת מִן הַכָּבֵד מִן הַחַטָּאת הִקְטִיר הַמִּזְבֵּחָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת מֹשֶֽׁה

11 וְאֶת הַבָּשָׂר וְאֶת הָעוֹר שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ מִחוּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה

12 וַיִּשְׁחַט אֶת הָעֹלָה וַיַּמְצִאוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן אֵלָיו אֶת הַדָּם וַיִּזְרְקֵהוּ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִֽיב

13 וְאֶת הָעֹלָה הִמְצִיאוּ אֵלָיו לִנְתָחֶיהָ וְאֶת הָרֹאשׁ וַיַּקְטֵר עַל הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ

14 וַיִּרְחַץ אֶת הַקֶּרֶב וְאֶת הַכְּרָעָיִם וַיַּקְטֵר עַל הָעֹלָה הַמִּזְבֵּֽחָה

15 וַיַּקְרֵב אֵת קׇרְבַּן הָעָם וַיִּקַּח אֶת שְׂעִיר הַֽחַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר לָעָם וַיִּשְׁחָטֵהוּ וַֽיְחַטְּאֵהוּ כָּרִאשֽׁוֹן

16 וַיַּקְרֵב אֶת הָעֹלָה וַֽיַּעֲשֶׂהָ כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט

1 On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel.

2 He said to Aaron: “Take a calf of the herd for a purgation offering and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and bring them before GOD.

3 And speak to the Israelites, saying: Take a he-goat for a purgation offering; a calf and a lamb, yearlings without blemish, for a burnt offering;

4 And an ox and a ram for an offering of well-being to sacrifice before GOD; and a grain offering with oil mixed in. For today GOD will appear to you.”

5 They brought to the front of the Tent of Meeting the things that Moses had commanded, and the whole community came forward and stood before GOD.

6 Moses said: “This is what GOD has commanded that you do, that the Presence of GOD may appear to you.”

7 Then Moses said to Aaron: “Come forward to the altar and sacrifice your purgation offering and your burnt offering, making expiation for yourself and for the people; and sacrifice the people’s offering and make expiation for them, as GOD has commanded.”

8 Aaron came forward to the altar and slaughtered his calf of purgation offering.

9 Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him; he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar; and he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

10 The fat, the kidneys, and the protuberance of the liver from the purgation offering he turned into smoke on the altar—as GOD had commanded Moses;

11 And the flesh and the skin were consumed in fire outside the camp.

12 Then he slaughtered the burnt offering. Aaron’s sons passed the blood to him, and he dashed it against all sides of the altar.

13 They passed the burnt offering to him in sections, as well as the head, and he turned it into smoke on the altar.

14 He washed the entrails and the legs, and turned them into smoke on the altar with the burnt offering.

15 Next he brought forward the people’s offering. He took the goat for the people’s purgation offering, and slaughtered it, and presented it as a purgation offering like the previous one.

16 He brought forward the burnt offering and sacrificed it according to regulation.