VaYikra 9:1 - 11:47

Parashat Shemini

 The Priestly Service Begins

9:1 Vayehi bayom hashemini kara Moshe leAharon ulevanav uleziknei Yisrael
And it was on the eighth day [that] Moshe called to Aharon and to his sons and to the elders of Yisrael.

2 Vayomer el-Aharon kach-lecha egel ben-bakar lechatat ve'ayil le'olah temimim vehakrev lifnei HASHEM
He said to Aharon, "Take for yourself, a young calf, for a sin-offering and a ram - for a burnt-offering - unblemished ones, and bring them before HASHEM.

3 Ve'el-benei Yisrael tedaber lemor kechu se'ir-izim lechatat ve'egel vacheves benei-shana temimim le'olah
To the Children of Yisrael you shall speak, saying, Take a he-goat, for a sin-offering and a calf and a lamb, both one year old - unblemished - for a burnt-offering,

4 veshor va'ayil lishlamim lizbo'ach lifnei HASHEM uminchah blulah vashamen ki hayom HASHEM nirah aleichem
an ox and a ram for a peace-offering, to sacrifice before HASHEM and a meal-offering mixed with oil, for today, HASHEM will appear to you."

5 Vayikchu et asher tzivah Moshe el-penei Ohel Mo'ed vayikrevu kol-ha'edah vaya'amdu lifnei HASHEM
They took that which Moshe commanded, before the Tent of Meeting; and the entire congregation approached and they stood before HASHEM.

6 Vayomer Moshe zeh hadavar asher-tzivah HASHEM ta'asu veyera aleichem kevod HASHEM
Moshe said, "This is what HASHEM commanded you to do; and the glory of HASHEM will appear to you."

7 Vayomer Moshe el-Aharon krav el-hamizbe'ach va'aseh et-chatatcha ve'et-olatecha vechaper ba'adcha uve'ad ha'am va'aseh et-korban ha'am vechaper ba'adam ka'asher tzivah HASHEM
Moshe said to Aharon, "Approach the Altar and perform [the services of] your sin-offering and your burnt-offering and atone on your [own] behalf and on behalf of the people; and perform [the service of] the people's offering and atone on their behalf, just as HASHEM commanded."

8 Vayikrav Aharon el-hamizbe'ach vayishchat et-egel hachatat asher-lo
Aharon approached the Altar and slaughtered the calf that he had for a sin-offering.

9 Vayakrivu benei Aharon et-hadam elav vayitbol etzba'o badam vayiten al-karnot hamizbe'ach ve'et-hadam yatzak el-yesod hamizbe'ach Aharon's sons brought the blood to him and he dipped his finger into the blood and put it atop the corners of the Altar and he poured the [remaining] blood into the base of the Altar.

10 Ve'et-hachelev ve'et-haklayot ve'et-hayoteret min-hakaved min-hachatat hiktir hamizbechah ka'asher tzivah HASHEM et-Moshe
The fat, kidneys and the lobe of the liver from the sin-offering, he burned on the Altar, just as HASHEM commanded Moshe.

11 Ve'et-habasar ve'et-ha'or saraf ba'esh michutz lamachaneh
The flesh and the skin, he burned in a fire beyond the encampment.

12 Vayishchat et-ha'olah vayamtzi'u benei Aharon elav et-hadam vayizrekehu al-hamizbe'ach saviv
He slaughtered the burnt-offering; and Aharon's sons presented the blood to him, and he sprinkled it all around the Altar.

13 Ve'et-ha'olah himtzi'u elav lintacheiha ve'et-harosh vayakter al-hamizbe'ach
They presented the burnt-offering to him with its limbs severed and [with] the head, and he burned them on the Altar.

14 Vayirchatsz et-hakerev ve'et-hakra'ayim vayakter al-ha'olah hamizbechah
He washed the innards and the feet and burned them on the burnt-offering, on the Altar.

15 Vayakrev et korban ha'am vayikach et-se'ir hachatat asher la'am vayishchatehu vayechat'ehu karishon
he brought the people's offering; he took the people's sin-offering goat, and he slaughtered it and offered it as a sin-offering, in the same manner as the first one.

16 Vayakrev et-ha'olah vaya'aseha kamishpat
He brought the burnt-offering and he did it according to the rule.

Sheni

17 Vayakrev et-haminchah vayemale chapo mimenah vayakter al-hamizbe'ach milvad olat haboker
He brought the meal-offering; he filled his palm from it and burned it on the altar: aside from the burnt-offering [that was brought] in the morning.

18 Vayishchat et-hashor ve'et-ha'ayil zevach hashlamim asher la'am vayamtzi'u benei Aharon et-hadam elav vayizrekehu al-hamizbe'ach saviv
He slaughtered the ox and the ram, the peace-offerings of the people; and Aharon's sons presented the blood to him and he sprinkled it all around the Altar.

19 Ve'et-hachalavim min-hashor umin-ha'ayil ha'alyah vehamechaseh vehaklayot veyoteret hakaved
The fats of the ox and of the ram; the fat-tail, the [fat] covering [the innards], the kidneys and the lobe of the liver.

20 Vayasimu et-hachalavim al-hechazot vayakter hachalavim hamizbechah
They put the fats on top of the breasts and he burned the fats on the Altar.

21 Ve'et hechazot ve'et shok hayamin henif Aharon tenufah lifnei HASHEM ka'asher tzivah Moshe
The breasts and the right thigh, Aharon waved [as] a wave-offering before HASHEM, just as Moshe commanded.

 

Aharon's Blessing

22 Vayisa Aharon et-yadav el-ha'am vayevarechem vayered me'asot hachatat veha'olah vehashlamim
Aharon raised his hands tward the people and he blessed them.  He descended [from the Altar where he] had offered the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering and the peace-offering.

23 Vayavo Moshe ve'Aharon el-Ohel Mo'ed vayetze'u vayevarechu et-ha'am vayera chevod-HASHEM el-kol-ha'am
And Moshe and Aharon went [in] to the Tent of Meeting and [then] they went outside and blessed the people, and the glory of HASHEM appeared to the entire people.

Shelishi

24 Vatetze esh milifnei HASHEM vatochal al-hamizbe'ach et-ha'olah ve'et-hachalavim vayar kol-ha'am vayaronu vayiplu al-pneihem
A fire came froth from before HASHEM and consumed what was on the Altar; the burnt-offering and the fats.  All the people saw and they raised their voices in praise, and they fell on their faces.

 

The Death of Nadav and Avihu

10:1 Vayikchu venei-Aharon Nadav va'Avihu ish machtato vayitnu vahen esh vayasimu aleiha ketoret vayakrivu lifnei HASHEM esh zarah asher lo tzivah otam
Nadav and Avihu, Aharon's sons, took, each of them his fire-pan, placed fire on it and then placed incense upon it and they brought before HASHEM a strange fire, which He had not commanded them.

2 Vatetze esh milifnei HASHEM vatochal otam vayamutu lifnei HASHEM
A fire came froth from before HASHEM and consumed them, and they died in the presence of HASHEM.

3 Vayomer Moshe el-Aharon hu asher-diber HASHEM lemor bikrovai ekadesh ve'al-penei chol-ha'am ekaved vayidom Aharon
Moshe said to Aharon, "It is as HASHEM spoke, saying, 'Through those that are near me I shall be sanctified, and in the presence of the entire people I will be glorified.'"  And Aharon was silent.

4 Vayikra Moshe el-Misha'el ve'el Eltzafan benei Uzi'el dod Aharon vayomer alehem kirvu se'u et-acheichem me'et pnei-hakodesh el-michutz lamachaneh
Moshe called to Misha'el and to Eltzafan the sons of Uzi'el, Aharon's uncle, and said to them, "Come closer and carry your brothers from the presence of the Sanctuary, to beyond the encampment."

5 Vayikrevu vayisa'um bechutanotam el-michutz lamachaneh ka'asher diber Moshe
They came closer and they carried them in their tunics to beyond the encampment, just as Moshe spoke.

6 Vayomer Moshe el-Aharon ule-El'azar ule-Itamar banav rasheichem al-tifra'u uvigdeichem lo-tifromu velo tamutu ve'al kol-ha'edah yiktzof va'acheichem kol-beit Yisra'el yivku et-hasrefah asher saraf HASHEM
Moshe said to Aharon and to El'azar and Itamar, his son, "Do not let your hair grow long and do not tear your garments so that you will not die and bring [Divine] anger on the entire congregation; your brothers, the entire House of Yisra'el shall weep over the conflagration that HASHEM set ablaze.

7 Umipetach Ohel Mo'ed lo tetz'u pen-tamutu ki-shemen mishchat HASHEM aleichem vaya'asu kidvar Moshe
From the entrance of the Tent of Meeting you shall not go forth lest you die; for the anointing oil of HASHEM is on you."  And they did as Moshe had said.

8 Vayedaber HASHEM el-Aharon lemor
HASHEM spoke to Aharon, saying,

9 Yayin veshechar al-tesht atah uvaneicha itach bevo'achem el-Ohel Mo'ed velo tamutu chukat olam ledoroteichem
"Do not drink wine or any other intoxicant, you and your sons with you, when you enter the Tent of Meeting and you will not die; this is an everlasting statute throughout your generations.

10 Ulehavdil bein hakodesh uvein hachol uvein hatame uvein hatahor
[So that you my] distinguish between what is sacred and what is mundane, between what is impure and what is pure.

11 Ulehorot et-benei Yisra'el et kol-hachukim asher diber HASHEM aleihem beyad-Moshe
[And that you may] teach the Children of Yisrael all the statutes that HASHEM spoke to them, through Moshe."

 

Revi'i

Disposition of the Day's Offerings

12 Vayedaber Moshe el-Aharon ve'el El'azar ve'el-Itamar banav hanotarim kechu et-haminchah hanoteret me'ishei HASHEM ve'ichluha matzot etzel hamizbe'ach ki kodesh kodashim hi
Moshe spoke to Aharon and to El'azar and Itamar, his surviving sons; "Take the meal-offering which remains of the fire-offering of HASHEM and eat it [as] matzot beside the Altar, for it is holy of holies.

13 Va'achaltem otah bemakom kadosh ki chokcha vechok-baneycha hi me'ishei HASHEM ki-chen tzuveiti
You shall eat it in a sacred place, for it is your portion and the portion of your sons of the fire-offerings of HASHEM, for so have I been commanded.

14 Ve'et chazeh hatnufah ve'et shok hatrumah tochlu bemakom tahor atah uvaneicha uvnoteicha itach ki-chokcha vechok-baneicha nitnu mizivchei shalmei benei Yisra'el
The breast of the wave-offering and the thigh that is the separated portion you shall eat in a undefiled place, you and your sons and daughters with you, for as your portion and as the portion of your sons they are given from the sacrifices of the peace-offerings of the Children of Yisrael.

15 Shok hatrumah vachazeh hatnufah al ishei hachalavim yavi'u lehanif tnufah lifnei HASHEM vehayah lecha ulevaneicha itcha lechok-olam ka'asher tzivah HASHEM
The thigh that is the separated portion and the breast that is the wave-offering, on top of the fats of the fire-offering, they shall bring, to wave as a wave-offering before HASHEM.  It will be for you and for your sons with you an everlasting statute, just as HASHEM commanded."

Chamishi

16 Ve'et se'ir hachatat darosh darash Moshe vehineh soraf vayiktzof al-El'azar ve'al-Itamar benei Aharon hanotarim lemor
Regarding the goat of the sin-offering; Moshe made a detailed inquiry and behold! It was burned.  He was angry with El'azar and Itamar, the remaining sons of Aharon, saying,

17 Madua lo-achaltem et-hachatat bimkom hakodesh ki kodesh kodashim hi ve'otah natan lachem laset et-avon ha'edah lechaper aleihem lifnei HASHEM
"Why did you not eat the sin-offering in a sacred place, for it is holy of holies, and He gave it to you, to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to atone for them before HASHEM.

18 Hen lo-huva et-damah el-hakodesh pnimah achol tochlu otah bakodesh ka'asher tziveiti
Behold its blood was not brought inside the Sanctuary, you should certainly have eaten it in a holy place as I have commanded."

19 Vayedaber Aharon el-Moshe hen hayom hikrivu et-chatatam ve'et-olatam lifnei HASHEM vatikrenah oti ka'eleh ve'achalti chatat hayom hayitav be'einei HASHEM
Aharon spoke [in reply] to Moshe, "Behold, today they brought their sin-offerings and their burnt-offerings before HASHEMand then such [tragedy] befell me.  If I had eaten the sin-offering today, would that have been good in the eyes of HASHEM?"

20 Vayishma Moshe vayitav be'einav
Moshe heard, and it was good in his eyes.

 

Shishi

Laws of Kashrut

11:1 Vayedaber HASHEM el-Moshe ve'el-Aharon lemor alehem
And HASHEM spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying to them,

2 Daberu el-benei Yisra'el lemor zot hachayah asher tochlu mikol-habehemah asher al-ha'aretz
"Speak to the Children of Yisrael, saying, These are the living things that you may eat from among all the animals that are on the earth.

3 Kol mafreset parsah veshosa'at shesa prasot ma'alat gera babehemah otah tochelu
All that have a cloven hoof, and they [the hooves] are [completely] split and that [also] chews its cud among animals, you may eat it.

4 Ach et-zeh lo tochlu mima'alei hagerah umimafrisei haparsah et-hagamal ki-ma'aleh gera hu ufarsah einenu mafris tame hu lachem
However, these in particular you may not eat of those that chew their cud and that have cloven hooves: the camel, for he chews his cud but does not have a split hoof it is unclean to you.

5 Ve'et-hashafan ki-ma'aleh gerah hu ufarsah lo yafris tame hu lachem
The rabbit, for it chews its cud but does not have a cloven hoof it is unclean to you.

6 Ve'et-ha'arnevet ki-ma'alat gerah hi ufarsah lo hifrisah tme'ah hi lachem
The hare, for it chews it cud but does not have a cloven hoof it is unclean to you.

7 Ve'et-hachazir ki-mafris parsah hu veshosa shesa parsah vehu gerah lo-yigar tame hu lachem
The pig, for though it has cloven hooves, and its hooves are [completely] split - it does not chew its cud - it is unclean to you.

8 Mibesaram lo tochelu uvenivlatam lo tiga'u tme'im hem lachem
You shall not eat of their flesh and you may not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

9 Et-zeh tochelu mikol asher bamayim kol asher-lo snapir vekaskeset bamayim bayamim uvanechalim otam tochelu
These you may eat, of all things that are in water; all that have fins and scales in the waters, in oceans and in rivers; you may eat them.

10 Vechol asher ein-lo snapir vekaskeset bayamim uvanechalim mikol sheretz hamayim umikol nefesh hachayah asher bamayim sheketz hem lachem
All that do not have fins and scales [that are] in the oceans and rivers; of any creature that creeps in the water and of any living creature that is in the water; they are repulsive to you.

11 Vesheketz yiheyu lachem mibesaram lo tochelu ve'et-nivlatam teshaketzu
They shall be repulsive to you, you shall not eat of their flesh and their carcasses shall be repulsive by you.

12 Kol asher ein-lo snapir vekaskeset bamayim sheketz hu lachem
Anything which does not have fins and scales in the water, is repulsive to you.

13 Ve'et-eleh teshaktzu min-ha'of lo ye'achlu sheketz hem et-hanesher ve'et-haperes ve'et ha'ozniyah
These you shall consider repulsive from among the fowl; they may not be eaten; they are repulsive the eagle, the white-tailed eagle and the bearded vulture.

14 Ve'et-hada'ah ve'et-ha'ayah leminah
The falcon and the vulture, to its kind.

15 Et kol-orev lemino
Every raven, to its kind.

16 Ve'et bat haya'anah ve'et-hatachmas ve'et-hashachaf ve'et-hanetz leminehu
The ostrich, the owl, the seagull and the sparrow hawk, to its kind.

17 Ve'et-hakos ve'et-hashalach ve'et-hayanshuf
The little owl, the cormorant and the eagle owl.

18 Ve'et-hatinshemet ve'et-haka'at ve'et-haracham
The horned owl, the pelican and the carrion vulture.

19 Ve'et hachasidah ha'anafah leminah ve'et-haduchifat ve'et-ha'atalef
The stork and the heron, to its kind.  The hoopoe and the bat.

20 Kol sheretz ha'of haholech al-arba sheketz hu lachem
All winged insects that walk on four [legs] are repulsive to you.

21 Ach et-zeh tochlu mikol sheretz ha'of haholech al-arba asher-lo chra'ayim mima'al leraglav lenater bahen al-ha'aretz
However, these you may eat of all the flying insects that walk on four [legs], those which have knees extending above their legs so that it hops on the ground with them.

22 Et-eleh mehem tochelu et-ha'arbeh lemino ve'et-hasal'am leminehu ve'et-hachargol leminehu ve'et-hechagav leminehu
Of them, these you may eat; the locust, to its kind the sal'am-locust, to its kind, the grasshopper, to its kind and the chagav-hopper, to its kind.

23 Vechol sheretz ha'of asher-lo arba raglayim sheketz hu lachem
All flying insects that have four feet are repulsive to you.

 

Non-Kosher Creatures That Transmit Contamination

24 Ule'eleh titama'u kol-hanogea benivlatam yitma ad-ha'arev
As for these, [animals], you can be made unclean; all those who touch their carcasses shall be unclean until the evening.

25 Vechol-hanose minivlatam yechabes begadav vetame ad-ha'arev
Anyone who carries of their carcasses; shall wash his garments and is unclean until the evening.

26 Lechol-habehemah asher hi mafreset parsah veshesa eynenah shosa'at vegerah eynenah ma'alah tme'im hem lachem kol-hanogea bahem yitma
Thus every animal that has cloven hooves but its hooves are not [completely] split and it does not bring up its cud, they are unclean to you; all who touch them shall be come unclean.

27 Vechol holech al-kapav bechol-hachayah haholechet al-arba tme'im hem lachem kol-hanogea benivlatam yitma ad-ha'arev
All [animals] that walk on their paws among all the living creatures that walk on four legs, they are unclean to you.  All who touch their carcasses shall be unclean until the evening.

28 Vehanose et-nivlatam yechabes begadav vetame ad-ha'arev tme'im hemah lachem
Whoever carries their carcasses shall wash his garments and is unclean until the evening; they are unclean to you.

29 Vezeh lachem hatame basheretz hashoretz al-ha'aretz hacholed veha'achbar vehatzav leminehu
These [also] are unclean to you among all creeping creatures that crawl on the ground: the weasel, the mouse and the toad, to its kind.

30 Veha'anakah vehakoach vehaleta'ah vehachomet vehatinshamet
The hedgehog, the chameleon, the lizard, the slug and the mole.

31 Eleh hatme'im lachem bechol-hasharetz kol-hanogea bahem bemotam yitma ad-ha'arev
These are unclean to you among all the creeping creatures.  Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening.

32 Vechol asher-yipol alav mehem bemotam yitma mikol-kli-etz o veged o-or o sak kol-keli asher-ye'aseh melachah bahem bamayim yuva vetame ad-ha'erev vetaher
Everything, wherever a part of them may fall when they are dead, shall become unclean, such as a wooden vessel, or a garment, or a hide or a sack.  Every vessel with which work is done, shall be brought [put] into water, and remains unclean until the evening, [then] it becomes clean.

 

Shevi'i

Objects Receiving Contamination

33 Vechol-kli-cheres asher-yipol mehem el-tocho kol asher betocho yitma ve'oto tishboru
Every earthen vessel into which a part of them may fall, everything that is within it becomes unclean, and you shall break it.

34 Mikol-ha'ochel asher ye'achel asher yavo alav mayim yitma vechol-mashkeh asher yishateh bechol-kli yitma
Of all foods that are eaten upon which water comes, shall be unclean.  Every beverage that is drunk, in any vessel, shall be impure.

35 Vechol-asher-yipol minivlatam alav yitma tanur vechirayim yutatsz tme'im hem utme'im yiheyu lachem
Everything upon which any part of their carcasses fall, shall be unclean [even] an oven and a hearth shall be shattered, they are unclean and they shall be unclean to you.

36 Ach mayan uvor mikveh-mayim yiheyeh tahor venogea benivlatam yitma
However, a well-spring and a pit, a gathering of water, shall be pure.  [But] that which touches their carcasses shall be unclean.

37 Vechi yipol minivlatam al-kol-zera zerua asher yizarea tahor hu
If any part of their carcasses falls on any sowing seed that will be planted, it remains [ritually] clean.

38 Vechi yutan-mayim al-zera venafal minivlatam alav tame hu lachem
If water was once placed on seeds and part of their carcasses fall upon them, they are unclean to you.

 

Contamination of Kosher Animals

39 Vechi yamut min-habehemah asher hi-lachem le'ochlah hanogea benivlatah yitma ad-ha'arev
If any animal dies [of those] that are permitted to eat whoever touches its carcass shall be unclean until evening.

40 Veha'ochel minivlatah yechabes begadav vetame ad-ha'arev vehanose et-nivlatah yechabes begadav vetame ad-ha'arev
Whoever eats of its carcass shall wash his garments and is unclean until the evening.  Whoever carries its carcass shall wash his garments and is unclean until evening.

 

Prohibition of Eating Creeping Creatures

41 Vechol-hasheretz hashoretz al-ha'aretz sheketz hu lo ye'achel
Every creeping creature which crawls on the ground is repulsive, it may not be eaten.

42 Kol holech al-gachon vechol holech al-arba ad kol-marbeh raglayim lechol-hasheretz hashoretz al-ha'aretz lo tochelum ki sheketz hem
Whatever crawls on its belly and whatever goes on its four [legs] or whatever has many feet; regarding all creeping creatures that crawl on the ground; you may not eat them, for they are repulsive.

43 Al-teshaktzu et-nafshoteichem bechol-hasheretz hashoretz velo titam'u bahem venitmetem bam
Do not make yourselves repulsive by [eating] any creeping creature that crawls, and do not make yourselves unclean with them, for you will become unclean because of them.

44 Ki ani HASHEM Eloheichem vehitkadishtem veheyitem kedoshim ki kadosh ani velo tetame'u et-nafshoteichem bechol-hasheretz haromes al ha'aretz
For I am HASHEM, your G-d; you shall sanctify yourselves and you shall become holy, for I am Holy and you shall not make yourselves unclean with any creeping creature that crawls on the ground.

Maftir

45 Ki ani HASHEM hama'aleh etchem me'eretz Mitzrayim lihyot lachem l'Elokim veheyitem kedoshim ki kadosh ani
For I am HASHEM, who brings you up from the land of Egypt to be your G-d.  You shall be holy, for I am Holy.

46 Zot torat habehemah veha'of vechol nefesh hachayah haromeset bamayim ulechol-nefesh hashoretzet al-ha'aretz
This is the Torah concerning the animals and the fowl and of all living creatures that swarm in the waters and for all creatures that crawl on the earth.

47 Lehavdil bein hatame uvein hatahor uvein hachayah hane'echelet uvein hachayah asher lo te'achel
To distinguish between the unclean and between the clean, and between the living creatures which may be eaten and between the living creatures which may not be eaten."