Inauguration of the Mishkan
This day was chosen by Hashem as the day of the Inauguration
of the Mishkan, the temporary Temple which was used in the desert and in the Land of
Israel, before the building by Shlomo HaMelech, King Solomon, of the first Bais HaMikdash.
The Midrash discusses the Inauguration of the Mishkan in BaMidbar
Rabba, Chapter 13, as follows:
"Rabbi Yossi used to say, 'When did the Inauguration of the
Mishkan occur? It began on the twenty third of Adar, and concluded on the first of Nisan.
And on all of the first seven days, Moshe used to set up the Mishkan and take it apart at
the end of the day. On the eighth day, he set it up, and did not take it apart. And that
eighth day was Shabbat, and it was the Rosh Chodesh of Nisan.
On that day, Aharon and his sons arose and washed
their hands and feet from the sacred fountain, they worshipped the Divine
Service in proper order. On that very day, the People of Israel made vows
and donations, sin-offerings and guilt-offerings, brought the first-born of
their flocks, and their tithes.
Regarding that day it is said (in "Shir HaShirim," the
Song of Songs) " 'Awake, O North Wind, and Come, O South Wind, Perfume my Garden, let
its Spices Flow, May my Beloved come to His Garden, and eat of its Delightful Fruit - I
have come to My Garden, My Sister, My Bride' - this was the Eighth Day."
Eight "Parshiyot," or Sections
of the Torah
On this day, eight "Parshiyot," Sections, of the
Torah were taught by Hashem to Israel through Moshe, as follows:
1. "Parshat Kohanim," the
Priestly Section; namely Parshat Emor, parts of which were directed specifically towards
the Priests, with special restrictions they had to observe
2. "Parshat HaLeviim," the
Section for the Tribe of Levi, beginning "And He (Hashem) took the Leviim from the
midst of the Children of Israel," because they were needed this day to sing over the
"Korbanos," the Sacrifices
3. "Parshat Temaim," the Section
for the Ritually Impure, who were informed that they had a "second chance" to
bring the Pesach Sacrifice, a month later, because the ritually impure could not
participate in the offering of the Pesach Sacrifice
4. "Parshat Shiluach Temaim," the
Section defining the camps in which the Children of Israel lived in the Desert, including
a special living section for the Ritually Impure, until their Purification
5. "Parshat Acharei Mot Shenei Bnei
Aharon," the Section which describes the death of Aharon's two eldest sons on the Day
of the Inauguration by a "fire which came forth from G-d." Many commentators
have offered explanations for these deaths, but they remain essentially a mystery
6. "Parshat Sh'tuyei Yayin," the
Section which forbids a Priest from entering the Mishkan while under the influence of wine
or other alcoholic beverage
7. "Parshat Nerot," the Section
which describes the Priestly responsibility for maintaining the Menorah in the Mishkan and
later, in the Temple, and its flames
8. "Parshat Parah Adumah," the
Section dealing with the Red Heifer, or Cow, the sprinkling of whose ashes was a major
part of the Purification Ritual
Rosh HaShanah for Five Matters
The First Day of Nisan is Rosh HaShanah for the following
five matters:
1. Kings of Israel - They
count their reigns from the First of Nisan, such that even if a King began his reign at
the end of Adar, once Nisan began, it would be considered as the Second Year of his reign
2. Pilgrim Festivals - The
Festival which occurs in Nisan, namely Pesach, is considered the First of the Three
Pilgrim Festivals: Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot. The application is that if a person donated a
sacrifice, he has violated the prohibition of "Do not Delay" only if the time
interval has passed defined by the three Festivals in the above order, such that if the
donation was made, say, after Pesach, "Do not Delay" has not been violated until
Shavuot, Sukkot, Pesach, Shavuot, and again, Sukkot, have passed.
3. Months - Nisan is
considered the first of the months. The Torah refers to other months as second,
third,…twelfth with reference to Nisan.
4. Leap Years - The Court may
proclaim a "Leap Year" only until the first of Nisan. Once that date has
arrived, the time for "Leaping" has "Leapt"
5. Donation of Shekalim - All
Communal Sacrifices brought from this day forward are paid from the shekalim collected in
the Current Year; last year's shekalim are no longer used for this purpose.
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