Shemini: the thin line

Shemini divides the great holiness from the profane, and the line is very thin,like the lamina of oil that remains after the anointment ( with Shemen), like the line between the .seventh and eighth days. 

Aharon performs the prescribed service, a calf (eygel) to atone for himself, a goat for the people. At the end of the service, Gd sends down the fire that consumes the offering and the people are ecstatic. 

Young men like repeated doses of Ectsasy.  Nadav and Avihu try to save Gd the trouble of sending fire.  They are consumed by Gd's fire.  The people morn.

 Aharon loses his appetite and incurs the criticism of Moshe for deviating from the prescribed ritual ( a very dangerous thing), but Moshe approves of the frail human behavior,  the loss of apetite is more pleasing to Gd than following the recipe. 

The parsha ends with the animals that are Tamei and tahor, edible and forbidden.  A fine distinction of rules over appetite. 

אַל-תְּשַׁקְּצוּ, אֶת-נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם  Don't make your soul creepy.