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Shemini
On the eighth day following "seven days of inauguration," Aaron
and his sons begin to officiate as Kohanim (priests); a fire
issues forth from G-d to consume the offerings on the Altar and
the Divine Presence comes to dwell in the Sanctuary.
Aaron's two elder sons, Nadav and Avihu, offer a "strange fire
before G-d, which He commanded them not" and die before G-d.
Aaron is silent in face of his tragedy. Moses and Aaron
subsequently disagree as to a point of law regarding the
offerings, but Moses concedes to Aaron that Aaron is in the
right. |
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G-d commands the kosher laws, identifying the animal species
permissible and forbidden for consumption. Land animals may be
eaten only if they have split hooves and also chew their cud;
fish must have fins and scales; a list of non-kosher birds is
given, and a list of kosher insects (four types of locusts).
Also in Shemini are some of the laws of ritual purity, including
the purifying power of the mikvah (a pool of water meeting
specified qualifications) and the wellspring. Thus the people of
Israel are enjoined to "differentiate between the impure and the
pure." |
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