Mishkan and Creation

Parshat Shemini begins with a description of the sacrifices that were offered with the dedication of the Mishkan. The “eighth day” refers to the first of Nissan, which followed seven days of service by Moshe Rabbeinu himself, in preparation for this great day.

Rav Kook viewed the Mishkan as a form of completion of the creation of the world. It is mentioned that if there was no Torah observed, the world would return to a state of nothingness. After the Torah was given on Sinai, it required a dwelling place for it, and the Divine Presence.

Rav Kook further notes that the Torah was given in the form of the “Ten Commandments.” Pirkei Avot teaches us that there were ten מאמרות, or statements, related creation.

The עשרה מאמרות in creation refers to the physical body of man, that was to contain the נשמה, the soul, that was breathed into it. The עשרת הדברות were given strictly for the נשמה, the spiritual aspect of man.

We see that this dedication was a culmination of the overall purpose of creation that included the physical and the spiritual.

It is hoped that the world has now passed into a new phase of spirituality. It is becoming abundantly clear to all that any substitute for belief in G-d, will not last. We must learn to live our lives where the emphasis on the spiritual is at least as important as the physical. When this happens, the world will be a better place for sure.