04/19/2026
Shalom! It’s a blessing to have you with us as we enter into His rest!
What happens when you know what God has commanded… and choose another way anyway?
This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Shemini (“Eighth”), brings us face to face with one of the most sobering moments in Scripture—when Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before Adonai… and were judged immediately.
Rabbi Jack Zimmerman leans into this weighty passage (Leviticus 10:1–3), walking through the instructions they were given… and the question we all have to wrestle with:
If they knew what was right… why didn’t they do it?
Drawing a powerful connection to Revelation 18, this teaching doesn’t stay in the past—it presses into the present. Because Scripture tells us that as believers, we are also called to be priests.
We know what is right.
We’ve been given instruction.
So what are we doing with it?
“But let us not mistake His grace for permission.”
Today’s Parashat: Shemini “Eighth”
Leviticus 10:1-3
Parashat Hebrew: Steve
Parashat English: Rhonda
B’rit Hadasha English: Rhonda
Darash: Rabbi Jack Zimmerman
Blessings: Matthew
This week's Torah portions are:
Parashat: Shemini “Eighth”
Torah: Leviticus 9:1-11:47
HafTarah: 2 Samuel 6:1-7:17 (A)
2 Samuel 6:1-19 (S)
B’rit Hadasha: Matthew 3:11-17
Suggested Psalm: 128
*(A) indicates the Ashkenazi tradition.
*(S) indicates the Sephardic tradition.
Before Torah reading blessing.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam. Asher bachar banu mechol ha’amim v’natan lanu et Torahto. Baruch atah Adonai, notein ha’Torah
Blessed are You, O LORD our God, King of the universe. Who has chosen us from all peoples, and given us His Torah. Blessed are You, O LORD, who gives us the Torah
HafTarah blessing.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam. Asher bachar bin’v’i’im tovim, v’ratza b’divreihem hane’emarim b’emet. Baruch atah Adonai, ha’bochar ba’Torah, uv’Moshe avdo, uv’Yisrael amo, uv’in’vi’ei ha’emet va’tzedek
Blessed are You, O LORD our God, King of the universe, Who selected good prophets and was pleased with their words which were spoken truthfully. Blessed are You, O LORD, who chooses the Torah, your servant Moses, Your people Israel, and prophets of truth and righteousness.
After Torah reading blessing
Baruch atah adonai, eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher natan lanu torat emet, ve-chayei olam nata be- tocheinu. Baruch atah adonai, notein ha-torah.
Blessed are You, O’ Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us a Torah of truth, implanting within us eternal life. Blessed are You, O’ Lord, who gives the Torah.
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