The Torah portion this week is Shmini (Leviticus 9-11). It means the 8th day. What is so special about the 8th day? Seven days represents nature, the Talmud compares the first seven days of celebrating the construction of the Tabernacle to the seven days of Creation. The first seven days is an element or component in and of itself, the eighth day starts us over at a new level, it is above nature. A bris milah (circumcision) is done on the eighth day. Even if a bris milah falls on Shabbos, it is performed because this act is above nature, above logic. We must connect the eighth day to the previous seven days. Everything we do now means something for the future.
The Tabernacle was built for the sin of the golden calf. Each day for seven days the Tabernacle was erected, and the Israelites waited for G-d's fire to come down. For seven days His fire did not come down so the Israelites dismantled the Tabernacle, made sure their repentance for the golden calf was sincere and complete, and tried again the following day. On the eighth day G-d's fire came down.
All revelations of the future depend on what we do now. In other words, the future depends on what we do now. Are we learning Torah, fulfilling commandments? The holiness of Shabbos is connected to creation, we make it happen.
Here is a wonderful story, this can definitely be shared with our families over the Shabbos table, or anytime.
A king went out hunting in his hunting clothes. He got lost just outside of the forest but he saw a light. He followed the light to a hut and knocked on the door to ask for help, however, the peasant told him he could not help him. He then goes to the next hut where a man named Moshe answers the door. Moshe says he does not have much but he is welcome to what he has. Moshe gave the king (not knowing he was the king), some straw to sleep on and some goats milk to drink. The next day the king was able to leave and find his way home. Three days later the king sent his royal carriage to Moshe's hut and Moshe is told the king wants to see him. Moshe cant figure out what he has done wrong that the king should want to see him. The king thanks Moshe for his help, for the straw and goats milk, and tells him he will build him a beautiful home right next to the palace and give him money so he should not want. Moshe meets another man and this man asks him how this happened. Moshe said he gave the king straw and goats milk. So.....this man knocks on the castle door with straw and goats milk and tries to give it to the king. The man is kicked out. The king doesn't need straw and goats milk now.
We are in exile, and G-d is in exile with us. Anything we do for Him now, G-d will give us back a gift so much greater than what we gave to Him.
Can you see how we are connecting the 7 days of Creation with the 8th day? Creation represents our effort, we start from darkness and make it light (there was evening and then morning-all of our days on the Hebrew calendar start at night), G-d starts with light and penetrates the dark.
Good Shabbos!
Adventuresome Me
- Tamar Ruth
- Who I started out as is not who I have become! I grew up in a small town, very small...and all I wanted to do was move to the city. Now as an adult that small town has grown and is overcrowded. I want what I had as a kid...small town living. We don't appreciate what we have until it is gone. I water my plants with my rain barrel water,grow veggies in the front yard and want chickens and goats in the worst way. I married my high school sweetheart and after 18 years of marriage converted to Judaism. Did I mention I have 4 kids and I homeschool? My oldest son just graduated! The purpose of this blog is to share my experiences--homeschooling, being Jewish and loving it in a not so Jewish town, gardening, animals, and alternative medicines. So, if any of these things interest you---come along for the ride!
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