The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Shemini

The Rebbe says:

1. The basic outline of this week’s Torah portion is as follows:

The Torah first tells us about the eighth day of the inauguration of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle).

The Torah then continues and recounts how the two eldest sons of Aharon Hakohen (Aaron the High Priest) – Nadav and Avihu – died while bringing a “foreign fire” into the Mishkan.

Towards the end of the portion the Torah tells us the laws of forbidden animals and what constitutes a Kosher animal.

Finally, at the end of the portion the Torah tells us the laws regarding consuming forbidden reptiles and insects.

2. The Rebbe now discusses the underlying points of the first two sections:

With regards to the inauguration of the Mishkan, we have pointed out on other occasions that there is a very conspicuous difference between the first seven days of inaugurating the Mishkan and the eighth day; on the eighth day the Mishkan stayed up, whereas at the end of each of the first seven days of inauguration the Mishkan would be dismantled. We have also pointed out previously that on the eighth day “a fire came out from before Hashem (G-d) and consumed the burnt offering and fats upon the Altar”, in addition to “the glory of G-d appearing to all the people”. In short, the eighth day of inauguration was an exceptionally elevated day.

Concerning the death of Aharon’s sons Nadav and Avihu, we have previously explained that they had hoped that their very strong connection to Hashem would eventually lead to their Souls leaving their bodies and becoming one with Hashem; therefore they came into Hashem’s “inner chamber” unannounced with their fire pans and incenses ready to ascend up to Heaven. In other words, Nadav and Avihu were on a very exalted spiritual level, as Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher) tells his brother Aharon, “…Now I see that they (Nadav and Avihu) are greater then you and I”.

Furthermore, from the fact that Hashem warns the Jewish people after this incident not to repeat their behavior, we see that the Jewish people as a whole were at a very high spiritual level.

3. The Rebbe now asks a question:

After the Torah describes the unique revelation of Hashem and describes the extraordinary holiness of the Jewish people at that time, why would the Torah then go on to warn us not to eat creepy crawlers which are “disgusting things that repulse the very Soul of man”? This is an elementary and decent thing to do which every human being understands on their own!?

4. The Rebbe now answers the question:

Within the verses detailing Hashem’s commandment not to eat insects and reptiles, the Torah says, “For I am G-d who is bringing you up from the land of Egypt to be your G-d- On the condition that you accept My commandments”. In other words, the Torah commands us to have “Kabolos Ol” (obediently accepting the yoke of Heaven) unquestioningly.

When the Torah demands unquestioning and absolute obedience, in other words, nullification which is higher than reason; it is talking to the person’s physical body which comes from a place that is higher than reason and logic. As is encapsulated in the Torah blessings recited every day and at every Torah reading: “He chose us from all other nations and gave us His Torah.”

On the other hand, being that the physical body is unreasonable, it can even stoop to eating reptiles and insects. Therefore, the Torah forewarns us and tells us that we need to have “Kabolos Ol” (obediently accepting the yoke of Heaven) even if we are at an elevated level in our service to Hashem, (like the Jewish people were then, after the revelation of Hashem on the eighth day of inauguration and as the story of Nadav and Avihu’s death attests), because if not, we can end up “eating creepy crawlers”.

5. The Rebbe now relates a story of our Sages which illustrates how the body’s natural disposition plays a role in our conduct:

The Magid of Mezritch once told the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi) that he had seen Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher) in a vision, learning Torah with little children. They were learning about Avraham Avinu (Abraham our patriarch) and when they came to the verse, “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, ‘Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’”, the children incredulously asked, “How could Avraham Avinu doubt the words of Hashem?!”

Moshe Rabbeinu then explained to the young children that this skepticism comes from the body. Being that the body has built in character traits, they can automatically express themselves in certain situations. Therefore, even though Avraham Avinu’s body was a Holy body; it was still a physical body nonetheless and his body’s automatic reaction was that of laughter upon hearing the news that he would have a son.

The same applies here. The body has natural propensities and this can cause us to end up eating reptiles and insects, even if we follow the letter of the law today. The only way to ensure our loyalty to Hashem’s Torah is by having complete “Kabolos Ol”- subservience to Hashem.

Translated and adapted by Shalom Goldberg. Taken from Likutei Sichos volume one, second Sicha.