Glossary of Terms Used in the Shmini Weekly Torah Portion

Inauguration of the Tabernacle

“Inauguration of the tabernacle” is the point from which we can bring offerings, meaning correct our desires in actual fact. In that state, we can correct each desire by making it similar to bestowal, love of others, and the Creator. We become similar to the Creator in that desire, understand the wholeness and eternity of Creation. We ourselves become as the Creator, as it is written, “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God” (Hosea, 14:2). This is what we should achieve, and these actions bring about great joy.

So it is not a coincidence that the revelation of the Creator is mentioned on the same day as the inauguration of the tabernacle. But what does revealing the Creator mean?

Upon beginning to perform the work of the tabernacle, we discover the Creator, according to the law of equivalence of form. As we perform the same acts as the Creator, the Creator “dresses” in us, and we begin to feel that our actions create our situation, our place, and our status. One who performs acts of bestowal and love, correcting one’s evil inclination, becomes like the Creator. This is why such a person is called “Man” (Adam), from the word Domeh (similar) to the Creator.

It is said that Nadav and Avihu sacrificed with foreign fire. What does it mean?

“Foreign fire” is drawing light that comes to the will to receive in order to receive. Nadav and Avihu did not know this was impossible because they could not calculate. They intended to act with the aim to bestow; they wanted to sanctify even more, make greater corrections than was possible. This is why they failed. They ostensibly sinned, but it is not really a sin because they had no foreknowledge of it.

A “sin” is when we know that something is a sin, yet we do it. We have no such sins. All our sins on the spiritual path are from not knowing, and matters suddenly appear as egoistic. Next time, we avoid it. It is not like the sin of Adam HaRishon, of whom it is written, “I have eaten and I will eat more.”¹ This was an actual sin.