ON THE PARSHA Parshas Sh'mini by Dovid Lipman, Jerusalem The World Of The Supernatural (11:1) "And Hashem said to Moshe and to Aharon". Rashi, however, says Aharon heard it from Moshe. The Targum also makes a point of differentiating between the speech WITH Moshe and the speech TO Aharon. Why the difference? Perhaps it relates to the well-known principle which the Rambam explained, that the prophecy of Moshe was clear, even to the exact word, but other prophets saw dreams, riddles, etc., so since the Torah was transmitted from Hashem exactly, this chapter on Kashrus must have been delivered specifically to Moshe, in his special form of prophecy. A Time To Laugh (10:20) "And Moshe heard, and it was good in his eyes." A story is told of a Chassisic Rebbe who was brought a blind child named Moshe by his concerned father, to receive the Rebbe's blessing. "Moshe, do you hear?" the Rebbe asked the child. "Yes." "Well," remarked the Rebbe, the pasuk says clearly, "And Moshe heard - and it was GOOD in his eyes!" Immediately the child was able to see... Worthy Of Note (9:6) "This is thing which Hashem commanded that you do, and you will see Hashem's presence." What is this "thing"? The simple explanation is that the "thing" is the offerings Aharon and his sons would be bringing, and "you will see Hashem's presence" is the expected result. The Ohr HaChayim suggests, alternatively, that the pasuk is referring to the immediately previous words, "the nation came close and stood before Hashem." Not "before the Mishkan", but "before Hashem". They fulfilled the famous pasuk, "I place Hashem before me", and all that was left was the "always" with which that pasuk concludes, for one cannot compare a person's behavior alone to how one behaves in front of the King. So, to teach the Jews that what they had done must be done "always", Moshe said, "This thing you did is what Hashem wants you to do, namely, that you see before you Hashem's presence." From the Gemara (9:22) Sota 38a - Just as Aharon raised his hands, the Kohanim must always raise their hands when they bless the people with the Bircas Kohanim. (11:43) Makkos 17b - One who forcefully restrains himself from relieving himself transgresses "You shall not make yourselves disgusting". (11:4) Chullin 59a - The One Who controls His world knows there is no animal in it which chews its cud but does not have split feet, except the camel. Rare And Unusual Words (9:24) "VaYaRonu". Rashi cites the Targum, which translates the word "and they gave praise", but the Even Ezra says it means they gave a loud cry, apparently from joy at seeing the miracle of the heavenly fire. Mitzvah Digest 149) A Kohain may not enter the Sanctuary with hair grown excessively long like that of a mourner. 150) A Kohain may not enter the Sanctuary with torn clothes. 151) A Kohain may not leave the Sanctuary during the Service. 152) One may not enter the Sanctuary while intoxicated. 153) If one wishes to eat meat from an animal, one must check that it be of those with split hooves that chew their cud. 154) One may not eat meat from a forbidden animal. 155) If one wishes to eat fish, one must check that it be of those with fins and scales. 156) One may not eat from a forbidden type of fish. 157) One may not eat from a forbidden type of bird. 158) If one wishes to eat from a grasshopper, one must check that it be of those with knees above their feet. 159) One must treat the eight crawling animals listed in the Torah as impure, according to the halacha. 160) One must treat foods, once removed from the ground and touched by water or the like(*), as potentially impure. (* - wine, honey, oil, milk, dew, or blood) 161) One must deal with the impurity of dead animals according to the halacha. 162) One may not eat animals which crawl on the ground. 163) One may not eat the type of insect that appears in fruits and vegetables. 164) One may not eat animals which crawl under water. 165) One may not eat the type of insect that appears in dirt.