Parshah • April 2026
Shemini – Head in Heaven, Feet On the Ground
The 8th day of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, is a day for a more intimate celebration of Sukkot between G-d and the Jewish people. It is also the day we complete…
Parshah • April 2025
Shemini – Delete ‘Seven’ – Express ‘Eight’
Design underlies all of creation, presupposing both intent and a Grand Designer. The surface of the world is represented by the number seven – natural law. The number eight represents…
Parshah • April 2024
Shemini – Touching the Infinite
The number seven represents the natural sequence of life. There were seven days of creation, and hence seven branches of the Mishkan Menorah, and we curl Tefillin straps seven times…
Parshah • March 2018
Shemini – Getting High – Pleasure or Prison
The me-generation seeks pleasure for pleasure’s sake – a self-titillating experience – perhaps to escape a cruel world or simply out of boredom. There are truer pleasures of sharing, contributing,…
Parshah • March 2017
Shemini – Altered States of Consciousness is not the Way
Aaron’s sons did not die from alcoholism or an overdose. They had an out-of-body experience but chose to stay in an ecstatic state. Yet alternate states of consciousness are not…
Parshah • March 2016
Shemini – Spirituality is not the Goal but a Stepping Stone
Nadav and Avihu entered the Holy of Holies and died from an ecstatic experience. The purpose of life is not ecstasy or spiritual enlightenment. These are stepping stones to an…
Parshah • March 2014
Shemini – Do you move out of your comfort zone?
The meaning is 8. 7 is the natural order and 8 is beyond. How do we rise beyond ourselves?. People who carry out amazing feats when needed –mother lifts car…