Cleaning the house before Pesach is a long and important process. The Torah doesn’t allow us to own any Chametz at all throughout the days of Passover.
When we have finally cleaned the house of Chametz, sold our Chametz, and searched for Chametz, we are ready to settle in to a Chametz-free zone for Pesach.
The kitchen is changed over from Chametz to Kosher-for-Pesach utensils and dishes. Cupboards with Chametz are out of bounds. It’s a full kitchen makeover – but just for about a week.
Then comes the conclusion of Pesach. As soon as Passover is over, we tear it all down and put away the Passover dishes until next year.
It’s amazing how quickly we go from Pesach to Chametz. It took us weeks of preparation to get the house ready for Pesach. But, to undo it all takes just a good few hours of hard work (with a nice team of helpers).
My kids are eager to help – because they know that the sooner the house is back to its previous status they can then enjoy some Chametz. This speeds up the process somewhat, but they still wonder why is turning the kitchen and house back to Chametz so much quicker than getting it ready for Pesach?
The obvious answer is that we are not creating something new. Rather, we are just returning the house to its innate kosher state as it was before. Making it Kosher for Pesach is a big upgrade. Restoring its previous status is a downgrade of sorts. We’re just getting back to basics.
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The name of this week’s parsha Shemini means eight. It talks about the 8th – and final – day of inaugurating the Mishkan. Despite the fact that the inauguration lasted for a week beforehand, the parsha opens with the 8th day. In other words, last parsha discusses the first seven days of inauguration and this parsha exclusively conveys the happenings of the last day.
Why is the eighth day in a league of its own?
The Chassidic Masters point to the Harp of the Holy Temple, which had seven strings. Yet, the Talmud states that when Moshiach comes, the Harp will have 8 strings. Why the distinction?
Chasidic thought explains that 8 represents a Divine energy above nature. Seven corresponds to the Seven Days of Creation. The number 8 supersedes nature. That’s why in the era of Redemption, the Harp will be 8-stringed. It will be a miraculous time of sorts.
And, that’s why in this parsha eight is all by itself.
However, it’s important to recognize that you can’t get to 8 without 7. So, 8 may be above Nature – but it’s still connected to Nature.
And, this is the secret of Moshiach. The era of Redemption will not destroy or erase the previous world order. Rather, it will give our world an upgrade, building upon the accomplishments of our flawed and fragile world. From the incremental perch of seven, we will catapult to eight.
This is why every mitzvah is so important. The new world order of Moshiach – in which G-d’s energy is revealed and peace and plenty are universal – is dependent upon and created from the current world order. Each mitzvah we do is a building block, contributing to something much grander than what meets the eye. The result is built upon – yet incomparable – to the effort we invest.
As we anticipate Moshiach’s arrival, we would be wise to remember that the keys are in our hands.