Concepts and Mitzvos in Parshas Shemini

Concepts

• Eight day of inauguration
• Nadav and Avihu (Aharon’s sons) die
• Laws of forbidden foods
• Laws of tumah
• Laws of forbidden reptiles and insects

People

• Aharon
• Nadav
• Avihu

Places

• Midbar

Mitzvos

17 mitzvos in the Parsha (Number 149-165 of 613 mitzvos in the Torah)

1. The Kohanim may not enter the Bais haMikdash with hair grown long.
2. The Kohanim may not enter the Bais haMikdash with torn clothing.
3. The Kohanim may not go out from the Bais haMikdash in the middle of their avodah.
4. The Kohanim may not enter the Bais haMikdash having drunk wine.
5. The mitzvah to examine the signs of animals (to determine if they are kosher).
6. Not to eat a non-kosher species of animal.
7. The mitzvah to examine the signs of fish (to determine if they are kosher).
8. Not to eat a non-kosher species of fish.
9. Not to eat a non-kosher species of bird.
10. The mitzvah to examine the signs of locusts (to determine if they are kosher).
11. The laws of tumah of the eight crawling creatures.
12. The laws of tumah of food.
13. The laws of tumah of animal carcasses.
14. Not to eat creatures that crawl on the earth.
15. Not to eat the species of insects that come from grains and fruits.
16. Not to eat creatures that swarm in the water.
17. Not to eat swarming creatures that come into being from decayed matter.

Year from Creation

Timeline
2449 This Parsha occurred on Rosh Chodesh Nissan

Sedra-Stats

• 26nd of the 54 sedras; 3rd of 10 in Sefer VaYikra
• Written on 157.2 lines in a Sefer Torah; ranks 42nd
• 6 parshios: 3 open, 3 closed

Comparison to the other sedras:

• 91 pesukim – 41st of 54 (4th of 10 in VaYikra)
• 1238 words – 41st of 54 (5th of 10 in VaYikra)
• 4670 letters – 41st of 54 (5th of 10 in VaYikra)

*Special feature from the Mesorah: the letter vav of the word גהון is large.