It’s all about what happens on the eighth day.

The number Seven relates to the order of nature, as in the seven days of creation.

Eight relates to that which lies beyond the confines and limits of the natural order.

Moshe has anointed Aaron and his sons with oil and blood in order to sanctify them. They were directed to go to the Tent of Meeting, have dinner there, and then stay there for seven days. It was a combination spiritual/work retreat. Seven whole days. No phone, no laptop (there wasn’t any internet in there anyway), no television … All their thoughts and attention were on learning how to properly perform the daily service as Kohen Gadol and Kohanim.

Torah commentary states that they were permitted bathroom breaks, and could even go home to sleep; they only needed to remain while services were in session, including when animal parts were being burned on the altar in the evening.

I imagine that during that time, the wives of Aaron and his sons had some deep and thoughtful discussions, trying to determine how to get oil and blood out of their husbands’ vestments. OxyClean stain-removing spray was millennia away.

Meanwhile, Moshe has spent each of those days in the same way: With Sisyphean tenacity, he wakes up, grabs a coffee, and goes off to work. His job? To erect the Tabernacle, a job in itself, then perform the service, then take the whole thing down again and pack it up, only to put it back up the next morning. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Seems kind of pointless to me.

But nothing in Torah is pointless. So, what’s the point?

I did some sleuthing and found my answer from the Gerer Rebbe—

“Seven times Moses erected the Mishkan and then dismantled it, presaging the seven Sanctuaries that would serve the Jewish people: the Tabernacle in the desert, those at Gilgal, Shiloh, Nov and Givon, and the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Seven times Moses dismantled the Tabernacle and then set it up again, so that the future falls of these Sanctuaries should not be permanent, but be followed by a rebuilding. Thus we are guaranteed that the destruction of the seventh Sanctuary will be followed by the building of the Third Temple, which shall never be destroyed.”

Wow! Once again, Torah blows my mind.

And then, on the eighth day, when Moshe erects the Tabernacle, it’s up for good. (Or, at least until it’s time for the Israelites to break camp and move.) It’s time for the Kohen Gadol and the Kohanim to be inaugurated.

And on the eighth day, the Divine Presence was drawn down and it settled on the Tabernacle, in full view of everyone.

Aaron is told to offer up a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for an elevation offering. The people are to take a he-goat for a sin offering and a bull and a ram for an elevation offering.

Why these particular animals?

We look to Targum Yonatan* for answers.

Aaron’s sin offering of a young bull was to atone for the sin of the golden calf and his part in that fiasco. That sin originated from the people’s belief that they needed “a god” to replace Moshe. They were excessively dependent upon him. Aaron tossed the gold into the fire, and the “god” that emerged was a calf, because the people thought they needed someone or something to blindly follow, as a calf follows its mother.

The people’s sin offering was a he-goat. This was to atone for the sin of the sale of Joseph. That sin originated from the brothers’ resentment of Joseph andd their rebellion, their refusal to accept that their father Jacob had chosen Joseph as leader of the family. They behaved like brazen goats.

I think the messages for us are pretty clear. We’re not supposed to be calves, nor are we supposed to be goats. I think most of us have a natural tendency to lean towards one or the other. You know in which direction you’re inclined, what part of your thinking needs a bit of gentle scrutiny. I know all too well where I fall in this …

So, what shall we eat?

Let’s go for Tradition with a Twist. We’ll follow like calves for a bit, and then be a little cocky, like a goat.

The remainder of Parsha Shemini discusses what animals are clean/permitted for eating vs. those that are unclean/forbidden to eat. We’ll stay within those parameters, of course, but be a bit brazen while we do it.

Let’s ease in and begin as calves. What could be more re-assuring than matzo ball soup for Shabbat? As always, you choose which version you’d like to make—chicken, or vegetarian.

And now that we’re feeling comfortable, let’s get a little bit cocky.

For our fish course, we’ll have shrimp scampi. Yes, you read it right. I said shrimp.

There’s a company called Dyna-Sea that makes kosher surimi in varieties that mimic crab, lobster, and shrimp. Most kosher markets carry it. Look to see if you can find it in your area. It’s just something that’s fun and a little different from your usual Shabbat fish course.

For those people who don’t eat fish, kosher or otherwise, I’ll turn to hearts of palm. With very little coaxing, this vegetable works as a great alternative to seafood. I’ve made hearts of palm “lobster rolls” and hearts of palm fried “fish” fillets, and they’re really good. When I’ve served them, they’ve been enjoyed by as much by the omnivores as by the vegetarians.

And the delicious, garlicky sauce loves to be sopped up by thick slices of Golden Shabbat Challah.

For a special-occasion-worthy entrée, I’m going to make some show-stopping stuffed artichokes, with a lamb and pistachio filling that will make every leaf a mouth-watering treat. For the vegetarians, I’ll make my usual unusually fabulous stuffed artichokes, which are a treat on any day.

If you’re making both kinds and meat is going to be served, leave the cheese out of the vegetarian artichokes, in order to keep the table kosher.

Cashew, Currant, and Saffron Rice will be a nice accompaniment to the Mediterranean flavors of either, or both. There’s no real recipe for that. Steam Basmati rice with a pinch of saffron, add some cashews and currants at the end.

What could be more more expected for Shabbat than a kugel? You’re going to love this creamy on the inside, crusty on the outside Cauliflower Kugel

Ready for a final kick from that little goat? 

How about some crisp bacon crumbles on our Scampi?

I’ve played with many versions of vegan bacon—mushroom, eggplant, tempeh, coconut—and they’re all tasty. They all use a variation of some sort on a basic marinade of maple syrup, liquid smoke, paprika, and soy sauce to approximate the sweet, salty, smoky flavor of the real thing. But I recently learned about another one that blew my mind. Banana Peel Bacon. Seriously. Those banana peels we’ve been tossing out our whole lives are actually edible! I had to try it. I was nervous, but I forged ahead.

Even as they came off the pan I was eyeing them dubiously. But there was no turning back. I took a bite. And they were seriously good. They also took very little time and effort to put together, not counting the time they spent sitting in their marinade.

And now that I have these naked bananas, we’ll need a dessert that’s all about bananas. This one will warm your belly while transporting you to a tropical isle. It’s also very fast and easy.

menu for Parasha Shemini

Golden Shabbat Challah

Matzo Ball Soup

chicken or vegetarian

“Shrimp” Scampi

Fish or Vegetarian, with banana peel “bacon”

Stuffed Artichoke

with lamb or vegetarian

steamed saffron rice with cashews and currants

cauliflower kugel

Hawaiian Baked Bananas with Coconut and Macadamia Nuts

Shabbat Shalom!

*A Targum is a translation of the Scriptures from Hebrew to Aramaic. By the end of the first millennium BCE, Aramaic had replaced Hebrew as a spoken language. The translations were necessary in order for the people to understand what was being read. It’s believed that Targum Yonatan originated in Israel.

Shemini

Eighth

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