Shabbat Chol Hamoed

Candle lighting Friday is before 7:10 from an existing flame. Shabbat ends 8:12

  This Shabbat is very special in that it comes as part of three days of continuous sanctity, Two days of Yom Tov and then Shabbat. Three represent a Chazakah, a continuing bond of sanctity that permeates the days thereafter.
    This Shabbat we read about the giving of the second tablets. After begging Hashem’s forgiveness for the Jewish people for having made the golden calf, Moshe asked that Hashem show him His glory. (Moshe’s goal was not a selfish one. He knew that by rising to a higher spiritual plane, he would be able to share his spiritual wealth with the Jewish people.) The Rambam explains that although Hashem has no physical form, Moshe wanted to reach the pinnacle of human awareness of Hashem. Hashem acceded to his request. From this we see a powerful lesson. By begging for forgiveness for other Jews, although they were involved in lust, idolatry and violence, Moshe was elevated to a new spiritual plane.
  This is reminiscent of a story of the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, The Tzemach Tzedek. The Tzemach Tzedek studied a great deal under his grandfather, the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. Even after his grandfather’s passing, he would appear to him and answer his questions in Torah. One time, his grandfather had not appeared for a long time, causing the Tzemach Tzedek great anguish. The Tzemach Tzedek was on the way to synagogue and a poor man asked for a loan, because it was a market day. The Tzemach Tzedek told him to meet him after prayers. After entering synagogue and going through spiritual preparation for prayer, the Tzemach Tzedek donned his Tallit. He then thought that he was wrong for delaying the loan. In the interim, as the Tzemach Tzedek was praying, the man could be making a living. He took off his Tallit, went and got the money, and sought out the man in the marketplace. (One can only imagine the distraction of such a Tzaddik searching the marketplace before prayers.) When he returned to synagogue, and again donned his Tallit, his grandfather appeared to him and explained all of the questions the Tzemach Tzedek had saved since their last meeting. He then explained to him the tremendous spiritual heights one can reach by doing a fellow Jew a physical favor and certainly a spiritual favor.
  The Haftara describes the prophecy of Yechezkiel when Hashem brought him to a valley of dry bones and told him to bring them back to life. Upon doing so, Hashem told him that the dry bones represent the Jewish people.
  Many parts of our life can be represented by dry bones. Often, when we pray, or do another Mitzvah, it is without life. We say the words and go through the motions, but they are without life. We help poor people or study the Torah, but it is without life. Hashem is telling us to arise and feel the beauty of every Mitzvah we do.
  This also applies to our relationships with our friends and family. The Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shneerson, once said that a Shalom Aleichem used to be a heartfelt greeting. Now, in the greeting there is a hint of when are you leaving already? We need to put life into our dry bones. A kiss good morning to our children, a hello, must be full of life.
  Through our breathing new life into our dry bones, may Hashem speedily grant the coming of Moshiach and the resurrection of the dead.
  Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Biggs

Shemini
April 17th NY City Candle lighting 7:18 Shabbat ends 8:20
Friday night Sefirah: Today is 9 days, which are one week and 2 days of the Omer
Shabbat Mevarchim Iyar - Rosh Chodesh is next Friday and Shabbat
The Molad is Friday Afternoon 7:07 and 2 Chalakim

Shalom and Bracha!
This Shabbat we read the portion of Shemini. The word Shemini means eighth and the portion begins with the special instructions which Moshe gave Aharon on the eighth day of the consecration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Although the Mishkan had been consecrated for seven days, Hashem’s presence had not been felt. On the eighth day, special sacrifices were offered and the Fire of Hashem’s glory appeared and consumed the offerings. The experience was so intense that everyone fell too the floor in amazement and praised Hashem.
The number eight has a special connection to the revelation of Hashem. The Brit is done on the eight day. On Yom Kippur, all of the offerings in the Holy of Holies were in the number eight. The world was created in seven days. Eight represents the step beyond nature. In service of Hashem this teaches us that to reach Hashem’s infinite presence we have to transcend our own nature.
Thereafter, two of Aharon’s children, Nadav and Avihu, brought an offering that was forbidden. A fire consumed them and they died. The death of Nadav and Avihu teaches us that Hashem must be served as He wants, in the manners prescribed in the Torah. If we seek to have a spiritual experience outside the parameters of Torah, we are not serving Hashem, but rather ourselves. As such we are embracing death instead of life. The reason this occurred shortly after the revelation of the fire of Hashem’s glory is because their egos grew when Hashem accepted their offerings. Recognition by Hashem must increase our humility, not our ego. The Torah continues that Aharon was silent, because he accepted the decree of Hashem. His acceptance was pure self nullification, the antithesis of their error. Aharon’s silence was their Tikkun, the correction for there error and the healing for their souls.
Thereafter the Torah teaches at length about the Kosher laws. This comes in sequence to the revelation of the Divine presence because by sanctifying our bodies through keeping Kosher we allow Hashem’s presence to dwell within us. The Torah teaches us that by eating non kosher food we defile ourselves and chase away the divine presence.
Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai told his students before his passing that their fear of Heaven should be as strong as their fear of flesh and blood. A deeper perspective in his words is that we should be as concerned with the health of the soul as we are with the health of our flesh and blood. When a product is found to be tainted, it is recalled. Until there is clarity which exact product, and from which factory it came, people remove all products that might be tainted from there homes and tables. This applies whether the tainting causes fatality, injury, or occasional injury. Even when clarity is reached, we are wary. We should treat our souls with the same respect. Instead of eating and then asking, (or not asking), we should be positive that this food is suitable for our soul.
Eight (Shemini) is a very special number in connection with Moshiach. The harp in the Temple had seven strings, whereas the harp in Moshiach’s time will have eight. Let us pray that we will merit this Shabbat to again see the revelation of the Divine presence and hear the harp of Moshiach.
Shabbat Shalom,
 Rabbi Biggs