We are a community based in Woking and the surrounding area who meet weekly in groups to study scripture (Genesis to Revelation) from a Hebraic perspective and come together on Shabbat .
We follow primarily, but not exclusively, the Torah reading cycle and seek to understand and live it out.
People can join us either through a midweek group or on a Shabbat or both. You are welcome
This Week
Shemini
שְּׁמִינִי
Sh’mini, meaning “eighth,” is taken from the opening verse of Leviticus 9:1: “On the eighth day, Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel.” This passage marks a significant moment—the eighth day following the seven-day inauguration of the Tabernacle, the sacred dwelling place where the Israelites would encounter God’s presence.
What unfolds is an awe-inspiring worship ceremony, as Aaron performs his first priestly duties before the entire community. The joy and holiness of the occasion, however, are suddenly overshadowed by tragedy when Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer unauthorized fire before God and lose their lives as a result. This heartbreaking episode serves as a sobering reminder of the weight of sacred responsibility.
The portion concludes with a shift from narrative to instruction, introducing the Torah’s dietary laws. These laws define which animals are considered kosher, fit for consumption.