What are we to make of Parsha Shemini? Our ancestors struggled mightily with this reading because there are things in it that also made them very uncomfortable. There are things in it that make me very uncomfortable. But open-hearted struggle with what makes us uncomfortable is in fact a part of the tradition. A part I really connect with – because the Torah is part of our inheritance, whether we like parts of it or not. And I like a good story…
The story begins after 7 days of preparations for the dedication the Tabernacle are ending. So there are lots of lists of ritual laws of sacrifice and holiness for the priests and the people, connected to the Mishkan. The reading also includes the introduction of the dietary laws. With all these laws we get the story what happened at the consecration of the Mishkan and the ordination of the priests — including Aaron and his sons.
Unfortunately, this ordination does not go well. Okay, that’s an understatement...
