I remember as an American bachur learning in Eretz Yisrael that keeping the second day of Shavuos was…a bit surreal. All the Israeli bachurim were already wearing weekday clothing. They were writing notes in the beis midrash. Guys were talking on the phone in the hall. Buses were running. People were hopping into taxis. Yet, for me and my fellow Americans, it was Shavuos.
What was particularly interesting was what happened after I got engaged to my wife on Lag B’Omer. I went back to Eretz Yisrael to learn until our wedding. We had decided we were going to live in Eretz Yisrael, with no plans of moving back. As such, I received a ruling that I should keep just one day of Shavuos. My wife, however, who was in America, had to keep two days of Shavuos. I remember it felt so strange writing her a message on the second day of Shavuos—a weekday for me—when it was still Yom Tov for her. Shavuos is over now, but the concept of Shavuos really extends into the entire following week, whether you keep one day or two. Let me explain…
Parshas Naso is the longest parsha of the Torah, with a total of 176 pesukim! It’s interesting that the largest chapter of Tanach, Tehillim 119, also has 176 pesukim. Plus, the largest Gemara, Bava Basra, has 176 pages. What is the significance of the number 176?
Rav Moshe Wolfson (late mashgiach of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas) gives an incredible explanation. The Gemara refers to Chapter 119 of Tehillim with the following nickname: “temanya apin”— eight faces. Simply put, Chapter 119 is written in the order of the 22 letters of the Aleph Beis, with each letter having its own section of eight pesukim, all starting with that specific letter. In short, each letter of the 22 letters in the Aleph Beis has eight faces (pesukim), totaling 176 pesukim. Now you will ask me…what is the significance of the eight faces?
Rav Wolfson explains, based on the Maharal, that the number seven indicates the concept of nature, as Hashem created the world in seven days. (For further explanation, see last week’s issue for Shavuos.) The number eight represents something that is above nature. The Hebrew word for the number eight is shemoneh, which contains the root word shemen, oil. Oil possesses the quality of “riding above,” as it floats on top of all other liquids.
The number eight also represents Torah, as Torah is also above nature. Shavuos, the day on which the Torah was given, exemplifies this concept, as Shavuos is a culmination of counting the Omer for seven weeks, each week containing seven days. This sevenfold counting is what creates the Yom Tov of Shavuos. Shavuos falls on the 50th day, the start of the eighth week. This illustrates the concept that Torah is above nature. All the pesukim of Tehillim 119 extol the virtues and excitement for Torah learning. Therefore, each letter contains eight pesukim, as eight reveals the eighth facet: Torah.
However, the Yom Tov of Shavuos is not limited to only the 50th day. In reality, it extends to the entire eighth week!! Indeed, the Gemara says that if one did not bring the korban chagigah— the sacrifice obligated to be brought on Yom Tov— it may still be brought for the next six days, just like on Sukkos and Pesach where one has an entire week to bring the korban chagigah if one does not bring it on the first day. Shavuos, the Yom Tov of Matan Torah, lasts for the entire eighth week!
Finally, the concept that eight represents Torah is further illustrated in Chapter 19 of Tehillim. The first seven pesukim discuss how all the different parts of creation speak/sing the praises of Hashem. The eighth pasuk, meanwhile, is the famous Toras Hashem Temimah (The Torah of Hashem is perfect.) It switches to talk about Torah and mitzvos. We thus have another compelling proof that after the natural order of seven comes eight—above nature: our holy Torah.
Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim is the rosh yeshiva of Passaic Torah Institute (PTI)/Yeshiva Ner Boruch. Rabbi Bodenheim can be reached at rbbodie@gmail.com. For more info about PTI and its Torah classes, visit www.pti.shulcloud.com
