The name of the Parshah, “Shemini,” means “eighth” and it is found in Leviticus 9:1.
On the eighth day, following the seven days of their 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.
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.”
Learn: Shemini in Depth
Browse: Shemini Parshah Columnists
Prep: Devar Torah Q&A for Shemini
Read: Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play: Shemini Parshah Quiz
Abraham, considered the great! Grand son of Shem, Shem being considered as Melchizedek. Where am l going with this? Its important to get the foundation right. The idea of keeping things pure, in what is foundational, even though l dont speak Hebrew, and English is my language. I think it important to try and get words correct. As a Sopher, by name, my forebearers wrote and studied words. The word Tabernacle is Latin, and as it is a Roman word, it meant a ritual tent, but unfortunately, it was a Roman place of worship, and the Romans had many gods that were worshipped in the Tabernacle. Mishkan, is the Hebrew name chosen, where the Jewish people worshipped together corperately. I was thinking, why some Jews, use the name Tabernacle, on their lips or writings, when using this word, discribes Roman worship. When the Roman Empire had taken over the Nation of Israel. The Jewish people were enforced to take on the Roman Culture. Was it this Roman Culture, that was inflicted upon the Jews?