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©
1996-2008 Torah Tots, Inc.
PARSHA ON PARADE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY
OF MY DEAR FATHER AND REBBI:
HARAV HAGAON RAV YESHAYA SHIMANOWITZ Z'TZL ,
ROSH YESHIVA
IN
YESHIVAS RABAINU YAAKOV YOSEF
(RABBI JACOB JOSEPH YESHIVA - RJJ)
IN NYC FOR OVER 23 YEARS.
NIFTAR ON 20 ADAR 5758 - MARCH 18, 1998.
MAY HE BE A MAYLITZ YOSHER FOR ALL OF KLAL YISROEL.
Menachim Z. Shimanowitz
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dedicate a Parsha or any other section of Torah Tots in honor or in
memory of someone close to you.
For further info, click here.
PARSHA
FACTS
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NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 17
6 MITZVOT ASEH (POSITIVE COMMANDMENT)
11 MITZVOT LO TAASEH (NEGATIVE COMMANDMENT - PROHIBITION
NUMBER OF PESUKIM (SENTENCES): 91
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1238
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 4670
This year, (5768/ 2008)Parshat Shmini is a special Shabbat.
It is Shabbat Parshat Parah:
The Shabbat immediately following
Purim is called Shabbat Parshat Parah פרשת פרה. The
Maftir, from Bamidbar, Parshat Chukat, (19:1-22),
describes the preparation of the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer),
whose ashes were used in the spiritual purification process during
the time of the Bait Hamikdash. This purification was carried
out at this time of the year to ensure that everyone would be
able to partake in the Korban
Pesach (Pascal Lamb) to be offered on the 14th day of Nisan.
HAFTORA: (Additional portion, from Prophets, which is read after the Parsha)
Yechezkel Ezekiel 36:16-38 (Ashkenazim);
Yechezkel Ezekiel 36:16-36
(Sepharadim)
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פרשת שמיני
THE
PARSHA
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In our last episode,
for seven days, Moshe demonstrated the ins and outs of the Avodah,
while setting up the Mishkan and taking it apart every
day.
Our Parsha opens
on the eighth day of celebration, the first day of Nisan,
as the Mishkan is set up permanently, and the Kohanim
prepare to perform the Avodah for the first time. All of
Bnei Yisroel gathers in the courtyard of the Mishkan
when they hear that Hashem's Fire will descend onto the
Mishkan and consume the special Korbanot that
Aharon and his sons will offer to Hashem. This will show
the Bnei Yisroel that Hashem has forgiven them
for the sin of the Eigel Hazahav (Golden Calf). Hashem
will again rest his Shechina amidst the Bnei Yisroel.
For the first time, Aharon blesses the Bnei Yisroel with
the Birchat Kohanim (priestly blessings). When the Bnei
Yisroel witness this great miracle they spontaneously break
out into prayer.
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YOU'RE
FIRED
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Now Aharon's two sons, Nadav
and Avihu, step up to the plate. But while the entire Bnei
Yisroel has been cheering about the fire from heaven, these
two Kohanim aren't too thrilled. They want to be even
closer to Hashem. So they decide to bring an incense
offering.
BIG MISTAKE!
First of all, they
do this without asking Moshe or Aharon if Hashem's even
interested. Second, the brothers brought incense [that normally
goes on the Mizbayach Haketoret (Incense Altar) in the
Kodesh]
into the Kodesh HaKodoshim (Holiest of Holies). No one
but the Kohen Gadol can enter this holiest of places
- and that is only on Yom Kippur! They might have thought
it out more, but they were drinking during the celebration.
Now, Nadav and
Avihu happen to be a couple of the greatest tzadikim
amongst the Bnei Yisroel and Hashem understands
that their intentions are righteous, but if they get away with
this then everyone will think it's okay to just waltz into the
Kodesh HaKodoshim. So Hashem shoots them down
with a streak of heavenly fire!
Moshe explains
to Aharon that a great lesson will be learned by Bnei Yirsroel.
Even tzadikim are punished for their sins. Now all of
Bnei Yisroel will fear Hashem and do teshuvah.
Aharon accepts this great tragedy without question.
Moshe orders his
cousins, the Leviyim, Mishoel and Eltzafan to retrieve
the bodies of Nadav and Avihu and bury them outside of the camp.
Then he commands Aharon's two surviving sons, Elazar and Itamar
to continue the Avodah.
Hashem is proud of Aharon for not even doubting Hashem
in his heart. To reward Aharon, Hashem speaks to him
directly (instead of speaking to him through Moshe) and commands
him that if a Kohain drinks wine he may not serve in
the Mishkan.
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KOSHER
CORNER
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 Hashem
commands the Bnei Yisroel to be a holy people.
How?
Eat only Kosher animals, birds
and fish.
Hashem shows Moshe every species that will EVER
exist so that he may teach the Bnei Yisroel which are
kosher and which are not.
The Torah mentions the two tell-tale signs of a kosher
animal:
- Split hooves and,
- If it chews its cud.
Certain animals chew their food, swallow it and then return
the food to the mouth again for a second chewing.
A kosher animal MUST HAVE BOTH kosher signs - don't be fooled
by some animals that have only ONE sign and not the other.
- A camel chews its cud but
does not have fully split hooves.
- A Badger chews its cud but
does not have split hooves.
- A Rabbit chews its cud but
does not have split hooves.
- A pig has split hooves but
does not chew its cud.
Hashem knows ALL
His creatures.
Did you know, that other than
the ten animals listed in the Torah (Devarim, Parshat Reeh
14,5) as kosher, none other has EVER been found?
The same is true of the 'one sign' kind. Only the four animals
listed here, have only one of the two kosher signs.
We may not eat the meat of a non-kosher animal, and we may not
drink their milk.
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FISH &
BIRDS
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 A
Kosher fish must have two signs:
Fins and Scales.
If we find a fish with scales
we may eat it, because all fish with scales always have fins.
The opposite (a fish with fins having scales) is not always true.
When it comes to birds, the Torah mentions 20 non-kosher
birds that are forbidden to eat. THERE ARE NO OTHERS. All others
are kosher. Basically, the Torah forbids birds of prey
- birds that hurt other animals.
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KOSHER
GRASS-
HOPPERS
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Don't plotz,
but there are eight kinds of kosher grasshoppers. We don't eat any
today because we don't know which one's are kosher for sure, but
it's always good to know that someday we'll be able to add grasshoppers
to our chulent.
Insects, worms, snakes and scorpions are forbidden.
Tune in next week for the next exciting episode of:
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See
the Midrash Mavin on Shmini
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