During the inauguration of the Tabernacle, Moses served as High Priest. For seven days, he played the starring role. Moses has a unique relationship with the number seven. He is the seventh generation from Abraham (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Kehat, Amram, and Moses). Regarding Moses, the sages state that “All sevenths are endeared.” The Midrash explains that immediately after creation, the Shechinah (the Divine Presence) hovered just above mundane reality. All that was required to manifest the supernatural in the natural world was for man to refine himself by keeping the one commandment not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. But Adam and Eve sinned, and the Shechinah removed itself to the first heaven above mundane reality. After each successive sin of mankind, it distanced itself further until it reached the seventh heaven. Abraham brought it down to the sixth heaven, Isaac to the fifth, Jacob to the fourth and so on, until Moses, "the endeared seventh," erected the Tabernacle and brought the Shechinah back to ground level on the seventh day.
On the eighth day of inauguration, Aaron took over from Moses. He became the High Priest, and the antecedent of all future High Priests. Like his younger brother, Moses, Aaron is also the seventh generation from Abraham. In terms of bringing the Shechinah into the world, he is the "eighth generation." He completed the work of the seventh generation. Moses is the 'hero' of the generation that received the Torah. The eighth day of inauguration was Aaron's day. Aaron's connection to the number eight manifests in the eight garments worn by the High Priest.
The numerical value of Aaron (ןֹרֲהַא) is 256, which is the product of 32 and 8. One permutation of Aaron (ןֹרֲהַא) means "has appeared" (הָאְרִנ). This word appears in the phrase following the inauguration of the Tabernacle, "For on this day, God has appeared to you." The clouds of glory that surrounded the nation in the wilderness were in Aaron's merit. Aaron's name clearly alludes to sighting the Shechinah, which manifested in the fire that descended upon the altar, and in the cloud that appeared at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
Technically speaking, Aaron's children were the eighth generation from Abraham. They also play a principal role in this Torah portion. Two of Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu died in their overly fervent service of God. Another son, Elazar, succeeded his father as the High Priest while Moses was still alive. He and his brother Itamar, Aaron's fourth son, eventually merited to enter the Holyland to completely reveal the Shechinah there.
Moses, the Eighth Tone
Despite Aaron's major role in the Torah portion of Shemini, he cannot be separated from Moses. Bringing the Shechinah into the world can only be achieved by both of them together. This is emphasized in the verses. After all the sacrifices that Aaron offered, the Shechinah did not appear until Moses and Aaron entered the Tabernacle together and blessed the congregation upon their exit.
Seven is the culmination of the natural world, like a soul that pervades a body and animates it. The number eight is supernatural perfection. In Chasidut, these two levels relate respectively to "immanent light" that pervades reality and "surrounding light" that hovers above reality. The intense light of the supernatural appears to lack the ability to truly infuse mundane reality without shattering it. Yet, the ultimate goal is to unite the two forms of light. The greater, surrounding light must be drawn completely into our reality. It must constantly be integrated in us until it empowers our psyches.
This union is achieved by the combined forces of Moses and Aaron. Aaron draws the surrounding light down to our level in the shining Clouds of Glory, while Moses absorbs the light and integrates it within us. Like Torah study that is grasped by the mind until becomes a part of our being; like the manna which fell in Moses' merit and was absorbed into our bodies, so too the Shechinah is absorbed into our being, "And I shall dwell amongst them—within each and every Jewish individual."
A new meaning becomes clear about the number eight. First, we saw that the number seven expresses one complete cycle of nature. The number eight is a quantum leap above nature. This brings us into a new dimension. But, in fact, eight elevates us to a new first. Like an ever-ascending spiral, we return to the initial level to contemplate it from a higher realm.
The regular musical scale is composed of seven notes. The note following the seventh brings us into the next, higher octave. This process is infinite. The special note of the eighth day when the Shechinah resides amongst the Jewish people brings the highest Divine light into our consciousness and integrates it into the innermost being of every Jewish soul.
