Torah Commentary

If Parashat Sh’mini was an episode of a TV show, it would begin with dramatic music followed by a big, booming voice announcing: “Previously in the Torah, our ancestors navigated the meaning of purity and sacrifice. The kohanim prepared for their ordination as the spiritual leaders of the Israelite community.

Often, we are unaware of and surprised by social norms - the "dos and don'ts." We simply conform, but it can be meaningful to reflect on these practices and potentially innovate with care. Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu, learn this lesson the hard way in Parashat Sh'mini.

Sh'mini offers us an opportunity to use discernment. Informed choices are the bedrock of our movement. It's a sacred task to study Torah while respecting its historicity. Can you find relevancy in these ancient words and connect them to our modern lives? This is our holy struggle - and struggling with God is very Jewish.

The fishing guides on Florida’s Anna Maria Island had affectionately named him Jerry. Jerry was a Great White Egret who stood over three feet tall and perched on a worn wooden beam in close proximity to the shore. The anglers would share bits of unused fishing bait with Jerry, who would quickly consume the scraps between the sharp snap of his golden yellow beak.