From Preparation to Reality: The Moment of “Beginning” The Torah portion of Shemini opens with a climax: after weeks of preparation, construction, and “dress rehearsals,” the Eighth Day arrives. This is the moment when the Tabernacle in the desert stops being an engineering project and becomes a living, breathing center.
For us, as a family on the road for over two years, the “Eighth Day” represents the transition we made from backpacks to a home. At Beit BINAH in Puerto Viejo, we experience this transition daily: how a physical space in the infinite green of Costa Rica becomes a “sanctuary.” It happens the moment the first conversation starts, when the aroma of cooking rises, and when community is poured into the walls. The house is not the goal—it is the vessel that allows something greater to happen.
The Fire that Burns vs. The Fire that Warms The portion tells of Nadav and Avihu, who brought “strange fire” to the Tabernacle. They were young, full of enthusiasm and a desire to touch the sublime, but they did so without boundaries, without a “vessel” to contain their intensity. The result was tragic: the fire they sought to use consumed them.
In Puerto Viejo, “fire” is everywhere. Absolute freedom, wild nature, and an endless spiritual search create immense energy. But as secular people who view Judaism as culture and identity, we see this story as a warning: Enthusiasm without responsibility is strange fire. At Beit BINAH, we try to create a “home fire”—one that is warm and exciting, but also anchored in dialogue, social values, and a connection to reality. We don’t seek to disconnect from the world in a spiritual trance, but to use the spirit to build something stable, connecting, and human.
Holiness is a Matter of Choice A large part of the portion is dedicated to dietary laws—what is permitted and forbidden to eat. In a secular reading, we don’t look for divine command here, but for a deep psychological and social principle: Awareness.
In the environment we live in, food is an inseparable part of identity. Managing a vegetarian kitchen and dealing with food sensitivities (like Celiac) makes the discussion of what goes on the plate a daily occurrence. The portion reminds us that holiness is not something abstract in the sky; it is on our plate. When we choose local ingredients or consider the needs of the person sitting next to us, we turn the act of eating into a noble human act. To “be holy” means, for us, to be mindful of our choices.
The Silence After the Storm When Aaron the Priest loses his sons on that same festive day, the Torah writes: “And Aaron held his peace.” His silence is a powerful moment of acceptance and processing.
Here, too, between the sounds of the howler monkeys and the tropical rain, there are moments of silence. Moments where we stop the non-stop doing of managing a home and community and just breathe. Shabbat allows us that “stillness”—an opportunity to process the journey we’ve traveled, the people we’ve met, and the fire we lit this week.
We invite you to join us, by our home fire, on the Eighth Day of the jungle.
Shabbat Shalom from Puerto Viejo!