Due to the expected inclement weather on Sunday, January 25, all programs and services at Temple Israel will be cancelled. Evening minyan will be on TIGN Zoom only.

On Monday, January 26, all in-person programs and services at Temple Israel will be cancelled. This includes the Beth HaGan Early Childhood Center. The synagogue business office will be closed, but staff will be working remotely and available to take your call. For the Players rehearsal, please be on the lookout for a separate email. The Shoah Book Club will take place on TIGN Zoom. Morning and evening minyan will be on TIGN Zoom only.

Temple Israel of Great Neck

Shemini

We conclude the laws of the sanctuary in this portion. The reading opens with a description of proceedings through which the priests begin their duties. In the midst of this, we find an account of two sons of Aaron, Hadab and Abihu, who take it upon themselves to bring some kind of unprescribed offering to the altar and are summarily struck down. Their death becomes the occasion for God to issue specific warnings to Aaron and all the priests to take special care in carrying out their duties. The remainder of the Book of Leviticus deals with the laws of daily life and provides rules and regulations whose purpose is to raise every aspect of human life to the level of kedusha (holiness). The first matter to be dealt with is kashrut (the dietary laws). Details are provided of permitted and forbidden quadrupeds, fish, birds and insects. The reason given for these prescriptions is that since God is kadosh (holy) and Israelites are His people, they also must be kadosh. However this is understood, kashrut serves to help make the basically animal function of eating, something uniquely human.

In This Section

Affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism