Weekly Sidra: Shemini (Eight)
Shabbat: Parah Adumah (Red Heifer)
Torah Portion: Vayikra / Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47
Special Maftir: Bamidbar / Numbers 19:1-19:22
Haftorah: Yechezkel / Ezekiel 36:16 – 36:38

Say to the House of Israel: Thus said the Lord God: Not for your sake will I act, O House of Israel, but for My holy Name, which you have caused to be profaned among the nations to which you have come. (Ezekiel / Yehezkel 36:22)

This week we have another special reading for Shabbat Parah (Cow).  The Torah portion for this week is Shemini which means eighth.  I will once again attempt to link the Torah portion with the special portion concerning the Red Heifer, which is based on the special maftir portion read from Chukat.

In this week’s Haftarah portion we read that God will act for the sake of His holy name.  Not for our sakes because we have caused His Name to be profaned.  What I have come to realize is that we cannot come to God in our own strength.  This is because we are sinful beings.  The only way we can come to God is through a mediator.

The Red Heifer is a metaphor for Yeshua.  The Red Heifer is hidden for now, so too we yearn for the revelation of Yeshua.  The blood of the Red Heifer has special properties to heal, so too, does the blood of Yeshua.

Shemini means eighth.  We celebrate Shemini Atzeret or the Eighth Assembly.  This is a special holiday which is not part of, but is separate from Sukkot (Booths).  It is the day when we start over and God presses the reset button so to speak.  The number eight represents a new beginning.  This is exactly what we obtain through the blood of Yeshua – a new beginning or new life.

The maftir portion which is read on Shabbat Parah comes from the Torah Portion of Chukat.  Chukat means a commandment which God expects us to follow for which there is no real explanation.  An example would be eating Kosher.  There is no real reason as to why God wants it, but we are commanded to do it anyway.

This can also apply to our relationship with God.  We may not always understand the reasons behind everything, but we know we have to put our faith (Emunah) and trust (Bitachon) in Him always.

God will act for the sake of His Holy Name and not because I am perfect.

Baruch Hashem