Claire Bergen is a 3rd year student at the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism. We discuss parshat Shemini in which, following the seven days of their inauguration, Aaron and his sons begin to officiate as kohanim (priests). Aaron’s two elder sons, Nadav and Avihu, offer a “strange fire before G‑d” and die. Aaron is silent in face of his tragedy. G‑d commands the kosher laws, identifying the animal species permissible and forbidden for consumption. Also in Shemini are some of the laws of ritual purity. Our conversation focuses on Aaron’s possible sin and response to the tragedy.
Previous Torah Talks on Shemini