Our guest today is Rabbi Ahud Sela, rabbi of Northridge’s Temple Ramat Zion. Rabbi Sela received his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, and his undergraduate degree from UC Santa Barbara, where he studied biochemistry. While attending rabbinical school he was a Wexner Graduate Fellow and also received a Master’s Degree in Bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania, and he often teaches on this subject. Before coming to Temple Ramat Zion, Rabbi Sela served as an assistant rabbi at Sinai Temple in Westwood under Rabbi David Wolpe.
This week’s Torah Portion – Parashat Shmini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) – tells us about God’s acceptance of Aaron’s offering, the deaths of Aaron’s sons Nadav and Aviu, and regulations concerning clean and unclean animals. Our discussion focuses on the dramatic death of Aaron’s sons at the altar and on its possible philosophical and religious significance.
