What happens when the Parshas Shemini is read eight times?

Answer 1

A year in which the first day of Passover is on a Shabbat (Saturday), Parshat Shimini is read eight times as follows:

(1) Shabbat afternoon prior to Passover

(2) Monday prior to Passover

(3) Thursday prior to Passover

(4)Shabbat Afternoon on the first day of Passover

(5) Shabbat Afternoon on the last day of Passover (outside of Israel)

(6) Monday following Passover

(7) Thursday following Passover

(8) Shabbat following Passover

The significance of the number eight leads to the saying

"Shimni, Shimona, Shimeinah"

"Eight, Eighth, Richness"

The year when Parshat Shimini is read eight times, is a year of fullness/richness.

As the number eight transcends nature (7 is a natural number, seven days in the week, etc), the year will also be above and beyone rich in physical and spiritual matters.

Answer 2

When the Parshas Shemini is read eight times, it means that the leap year calendar has six regular years and two leap years. This occurs in a 19-year cycle known as the Metonic cycle. The reading of Parshas Shemini eight times allows for the proper alignment of the Torah readings with the Jewish calendar.