By: Roberta Witkow
Director of Women’s Philanthropy
Parashat Shemini is a portion that challenges me. It brings together two difficult themes: the detailed laws of kashrut and the sudden tragedy of Nadav and Avihu, Aaron’s two sons, who are consumed by fire after bringing an offering that was not commanded. On the surface, it can feel unsettling—rules followed by loss, structure followed by silence.
But when I read Shemini through a contemporary lens, I hear a deeper message about the importance of guiding principles, and what happens when those principles are ignored.
The laws of kashrut are often understood as rules about food. To me, they represent something much larger: a reminder that our lives are meant to be guided by values. A framework of principles gives us structure, clarity, and protection—not to limit us, but to help us live intentionally and responsibly, with awareness of how our choices affect others.
In life and in society, guiding principles serve as checks and balances. They remind us that freedom without responsibility is fragile, and that actions have consequences. Shemini does not shy away from this reality. When laws or values are not upheld, there is a cost—not only to individuals, but to the community as a whole. This feels especially relevant today. In moments of uncertainty or change, shared values are often what ground us. These principles have safeguarded us for generations, forming the foundation for freedom, democracy, and justice—not just for ourselves, but for all communities. But they endure only when we are willing to be accountable to one another.
Shemini reminds us that community is not passive. It requires participation, responsibility, and a willingness to show up—especially when things feel unsettled. Accountability is about trust. It is how resilience is built, and how communities endure and grow stronger together.
After the fire that devastatingly takes Aaron’s sons from him, he inspires us to imagine what is possible while remaining grounded in the values that hold a community together.
Fire can illuminate and warm. The challenge is not to extinguish the fire we carry, but to direct it with intention. To transform risk into responsibility. To become the kind of fire that gives light and helps pave a path forward.
Parashat Shemini asks us to consider:
What principles guide our lives?
How do we hold ourselves accountable to one another?
And how can we be a source of light for our community and the world?
May we continue to uphold the values that have sustained us across generations, take responsibility for one another, and choose to be the fire that illuminates the way forward.
Shabbat Shalom.
Please email Roberta Witkow at rwitkow@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.