Shemini - The Eighth Day

26 Adar Bet 5784
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Shemini - Mevorchim/HaChodesh 

"It was on the eighth day, Moses summoned
Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel."

It was Shemini Atzeret when the first phase of the war began, and now that it looks like it may be moving on to the next phase (finally), it appears it may come on Parashat Shemini.  There is definitely a message there.  Though I can't say for certain what it is, some thoughts do occur to me.  

Seven represents a complete cycle in the natural world.  The number eight represents the level above nature.  Perhaps we could say it is the place where HKB"H hides Himself, and if we could but reach that level, we would be able to see the glory of His Presence.

The time of Shemini Atzeret is compared by our Sages to the yechidah after the marriage ceremony.  All of the guests have gone home and the bride and groom are alone together, enjoying their relationship in private.  It is meant to be the highest point of the High Holy Days period, where we have been elevated - through our own work of repentance together with HKB"H's process of rectifying us - to the level of Shemini (8).

The same idea, I believe, can be seen in Parashat Shemini.  Quoting from the Stone Edition Chumash Commentary:

This chapter begins on the first day of Nissan, the eighth day of the inauguration service.  On that day, the Tabernacle was erected permanently and the Kohanim assumed their new role.

...Referring to this service, Moses [reassured] the people that the glory of Hashem would appear to them this day as a result of Aaron's performance of the service for the first time.

And on that "eighth day," the "glory of Hashem appeared to the entire people."

If there is a hidden message here, it could be that HKB"H is trying to communicate His great desire to reestablish this connection with us and encourage us to do what we need to do in order to merit coming into His Presence.  

Quoting again from the Stone Edition Chumash  Commentary:

Moses told the people that after they carried out God's command, His glory would appear to them.  This concept is fundamental to Jewish faith, that first a Jew must dedicate himself to obeying the will of God, and untold beneficial results will flow from it.  At the Splitting of the Sea, for example, the Jews plunged into the waters, and, in reward for their faith, God showed them unprecedented miracles and a higher degree of revelation than was experienced even by the Prophet Ezekiel.  Such was the resolve that moved the people to declare to Moses that they were ready to perform all the commandments even before they knew what God would ask of them....  Once a Jew displays his trust in God, God will reciprocate with every manner of blessing (R' Aharon Kotler).

The final of the four special haftarot - HaChodesh - is read this Shabbat Parashat Shemini.  Quoting once again from the Stone Edition Chumash Commentary:

On the Sabbath before Rosh Chodesh Nissan...[we read] the passage giving the commandments associated with the very first Rosh Chodesh Nissan in Egypt.

The first day of Nissan was and always remains a historic day for the Jewish nation.  It was the day when the people received their first commandment as a nation.  Sanctify the New Moon.  This ritual has a profound spiritual and historic significance.  

I find mention of both Sheminis in the haftarah for HaChodesh.  The Prophet Yechezkel is speaking of the post-Redemption time period, after the Third Temple is built.

(Ez. 45:18)  So says the Lord God: In the first month, on the first of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish, and you shall purify the sanctuary.

This is Rosh Chodesh Nissan.

(Ez. 45:25)  In the seventh [month] on the fifteenth day of the month on the Festival, he shall do the same for seven days, a similar sin offering, a similar burnt-offering, a similar meal-offering and similar oil.

This is at the completion of Sukkot. 

May this very Rosh Chodesh Nissan fulfill all its inherent kedushah for a great revelation of HKB"H's presence in this world with the arrival of His righteous Mashiach!

~ SHABBAT SHALOM and CHODESH TOV ~