The Task of Adam HaRishon and Eve in Gan Eden

B"H

G – d commanded the Jewish nation to keep His Torah laws (Mitzvot). As we all know there are 613 Mitzvot but not too many Jews were able to keep all of them. Even if they wanted. The reason is that many laws apply to males only or refer to the Cohanim and their service in the Temple. As we are still waiting for Meshiach and the Third Temple to be built, we are only able to keep about 70 Mitzvot today.

Just recently we read the Torah Parashot Ekev and Re’eh where G – d is letting the Jews know that they either keep the Mitzvot and enjoy prosperity or the don’t keep the Mitzvot and thus have to face the consequences. In the Talmud Tractates of Berachot 33b, Sanhedrin 21b as well as Kiddushin 39b, the Tannaim are discussing why G – d refrained from giving the exact reason for each and every single Mitzvah. Besides only a very few Mitzvot, we simply don’t have any explanation why we have to do this and that. What we can do is figuring out a reason but the truth is that we still don’t know G – d’s real intention.

Sometimes we may find opinions in the Gemara hinting that there are no reasons but the vast majority of Sages, including the Rambam and the Ramban, say that there is a reason for every single Mitzvah we do. Most of the time we don’t understand why we are doing such and such but G – d has His reasons behind anything in this world.

The Jews are commanded to keep the Torah Mitzvot and the task of the Gentile is to keep the Seven Noachide Laws. If a Jew is not willing to carry out a specific Mitzvah now, at least, he should have in mind that one day he will be able to do this and that Mitzvah.

There is so much written about the Mitzvot in the Talmud, you wouldn’t believe it. You study one section and due to the background sources, you will find more and more. A never ending study. But why only talk about us and our Mitzvah difficulties today when we could go back and have a look at the source ?

It says in Sefer Bereshit 2:15:

"A – do – nai E – lo – him took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to work it and to guard it".

The question is what kind of work Adam HaRishon was supposed to do ? He didn’t need to plant or build anything. Everything he needed was there and he just needed to grab it. 

The Midrash Pirkei de’Rabbi Eliezer offers us one idea: The work Adam was supposed to do was studying the Torah. 

Now you may claim that the Torah itself was only given to the Jews more than twenty generations later. And, by the way, Adam HaRishon was not a Jew at all. So, how could he study Torah when the Torah wasn’t in this world yet ? 

Always take into consideration that Adam and Eve were on an extremely high soul level. A level we cannot even imagine today. Still in Gan Eden, Adam was able to do anything and had an unbelievable mind. His duty was to acknowledge G – d as the Creator of all existence and to follow the rules G – d was commanding him. G - d created both of them choosing a different path by refraining to eat from the Etz HaDa'at (Tree of Knowledge). If they had, they would have gained eternal life and our world would look much different today.

Furthermore, it says that Adam should guard Gan Eden. 
Why ? Where there trespassers or thieves around ? Anyone trying to break in and steal something ? 

A commentary in SEFER Ha’CHINUCH provides us with an answer: The external appearance of Gan Eden was very different than its inner essence. From the outside there were plants, trees and water. Its essence, however, was spiritual. Humans don’t only live in a material manner but a man is created in such a way that he also needs spirituality. 

How did the spirituality come to Adam and Eve ? The answer to that is very simple: By carrying out the Mitzvot. Studying Torah was their work but by fulfilling G – d’s laws, they were guarding themselves from going astray. By fulfilling the Torah Mitzvot they built a fence around their Torah knowledge. Adam and Eve were guarding themselves from leaving the path of Torah. 

Coming back into our times: We, as Jews, may keep the Mitzvot, half of the Mitzvot or no Mitzvot because we possess a G – dly created FREE CHOICE. Whatever our potential is, we should always keep in mind that there is so much more we could accomplish.

Adam HaRishon, Chava and the Nakedness

The RAMBAN

B"H

Each of us knows the famous Pasuk in Parashat Bereshit where it says that Adam HaRishon and Eve (Chava) "opened their eyes". Suddenly they became aware of their nakedness and started to be ashamed. This happened right after the two ate from the "Tree of Knowledge - Etz HaDa'at Tov veRah". And, as we all know, that the Torah is telling us many things in a symbolic language. Thus, commentators (including the Talmud) state that it wasn't an apple the two first humans ate. The fruit they consumed was either a fig, wheat or grapes.

The Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, 1194 – 1270) commentates that Adam and Eve didn't just, out of the blue, realize that they were naked. What the Torah is trying to teach us is that the intellect of the two had changed. "The opening of the Eyes" refers to their way of understanding rather than to their nakedness. 

Jewish kabbalistic writings see a further hint in the worldly clothes they received from G - d. It is not about their new kind of clothes but about various higher soul levels leaving them. For instance, the highest level, YECHIDAH, had left them and thus Adam and Eve became mortal.  

Everything about Adam Ha'Rishon  HERE !

Parashat KORACH

Olive Tree in Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H 

"Vayikach Korach … - And Korach took"

The Torah doesn’t teach us what exactly Korach took and, as a result of this, various Torah commentators present us different interpretations. By the way, my English ARTSCROLL Stone Edition translates "took" with "Korach separated". Korach separated himself from the Jewish community and from G – d in order to follow his own plans and thus gain leadership. 

Until today we often see anxious Jews starting a career through Judaism but, in the end, forget about G – d and only think about their own goals. Lets say a Jew thinks that he could prove all Rabbis wrong and may become famous this way. 

When Jews start arguing that the Rabbis don’t interpret the Halachot in the right way but only they (those who start arguing) can do so. When Jews start their usual bashing against Orthodoxy. Then Koran, once again, is among us. 

The medieval Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, brings a great commentary in his "Sha’ar HaPesukim". And, as many times, Rabbi Luria takes the subject of reincarnation as an example. Shet (Seth) and Hevel (Abel) were reincarnated in Moshe and it was Moshe’s task to rectify those reincarnated soul levels. Korach, on the other hand, was the reincarnation of Cain and what we find here is another struggle between the two brothers Cain and Hevel. 

Torah commentators as well as different Midrashim list us quite a variety of reasons why Cain killed his brother Hevel. Because Cain’s sacrifice wasn’t as accepted by G – d as his brother’s sacrifice. Thus Cain became jealous and killed Hevel. Another commentary teaches us that the two were fighting about the Tempel Mount (Har HaMoriah). Adam, Eve as well as their sons knew about the importance of the Tempel Mount where they used to live in those days. 

Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi, the author of the KUZARI, teaches that the two brothers were fighting about the Land of Israel. Who of the two would stand before Hashem (Lifne Hashem). See Kuzari 2:14. 

Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi interprets "Lifne Hashem" as "Eretz Israel". Both brothers were fighting about the land and who would be standing before G – d. In the end, it didn’t work out for both of them. One was dead and the other had to flee. 

The whole paragraph in the KUZARI speaks about prophecy in the Land of Israel but I am just taking this as an example in order to explain the struggle between the brothers. Now, in the desert, Moshe (Hevel) and Korach (Cain) are undergoing the same struggle and only one can win. 

Instead of working out a compromise, Kain (Korach) demanded leadership and thus didn’t rectify Cain’s reincarnated soul. Korach desired something which wasn’t meant for him. G – d alone decides about our tasks in life and many times we find out that certain goals will never work out because we are simply not meant to succeed. However, we are meant to maybe succeed in a different field. 

The famous Iraqi Rabbi and Kabbalist, Rabbi Yoseph Chaim (known by the name BEN ISH CHAI), 1832 – 1909, is asking "What it means that Korach never died ?" 

We may find the answer in ourselves, as all generations following Korach took a little bit of Korach with them. Until today we are willing to rebel and, at the same time, forget about G – d. At that moment, we only see ourselves. Our career, money, power, anything but totally forget that we are actually not in charge. There is and there will always be someone above us. Someone who decides whether and where we succeed. 

Shabbat Shalom – Gut Schabbes !

The Secret of TAMMUZ

Seen in Zfat (Safed) / Northern Israel

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

I started reading the Chabad book "Sefer Sha'arei Ha'Moadim" but it was mainly talking about how important the month of Tammuz is for being the month of the Ge'ulah (Redemption). Various Chabad Rebbes or, at least, one was released from Russian prison. Not only that but this Shabbat, Chabad is going to celebrate 3 Tammuz (Gimmel Tammuz). The last Rebbe's Yahrzeit or, as the Meshichistim among Chabad say "The day when the Rebbe became invisible". 

I admit that this was all a bit much for me and I started reading another commentary on the Jewish month of Tammuz. One of my favourite commentators is the SHEM MI'SHMUEL and he delivers an extremely interesting commentary on Tammuz.

While still in Gan Eden, Adam Harishon and Chava (Eve) were ruining the human sense of eyesight when they were looking at the apple and started to desire it. As we know, both of them were provided with the highest kinds of souls ever but lost some of them at the moment they sinned.

Remark: According to talmudic and kabbalistic literature, Adam and Eve didn't sin by eating an apple but the Talmud lists various other fruits or possibilities of what both of them ate. One suggestion is that they got drunk and other claim that there was something else involved. Something we don't understand and the Torah doesn't explicitly explains us further details. As a matter of fact, we don't know what a "Tree of Knowledge" is and stands for. 

When Adam and Eve desired the apple (or whatever), they brought a bad aspect on the human sense of eyesight and, as soon as this happens, the sense (or anything else) needs a Tikun (rectification). We are able to rectify something by using it for the good and thus elevate the level of the messed up sense (or anything else).

The Meraglim (Spies) from last week's Parashat SHLACH LECHA were supposed to rectify the sense of eyesight. The spies were sent out in Tammuz and returned in the month of Av. However, their task was to see the land (Israel) and thus see something good. They missed their opportunity and only referred to the negative. Thus they ruined the chance to rectify the sense of the eyesight and now it is up to us to rectify it. How ? By using our human senses for the good and not for the negative.

Thinking before sinning

B"H

To think about before sinning:

1. Where do I come from ? 

2. Where do I go ? 

3. Justification before G - d

The Midrash says that Adam HaRishon did not see the first point.

What did Adam HaRishon drink ?

B"H

"Sefer Seder HaDorot" teaches that from the time of Adam HaRishon (Adam) until the Generation of Noach (before the Flood), people were drinking water. However, the MAHARAL, Rabbi Yehudah Loew ben Bezalel from Prague (1520 - 1609) adds that the people of those generations were also drinking milk.

Tu be'Shevat and Adam HaRishon

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

According to Chassidut Breslov, “The New Year of the Trees - Tu be’Shevat” is the day where Jews have the power to rectify the sin of Adam HaRishon. How ? By showing the proper Kavanah while eating the traditional Tu be’Shevat fruit. Furthermore, by saying all the necessary blessings over the fruit. 

It was Adam HaRishon who mostly influenced the history of the world. Still in Gan Eden (Paradise), Adam and his wife Chava (Eve) were mean to live eternally. Adam’s only G – dgiven task was not to eat from the “Tree of Knowledge – Etz HaDa’at Tov veRah”. He was the only human being formed by G – d Himself whereas all other beings originated from Adam. It is basically unknown how the first human really looked. When I am saying the first human being, I refer to Adam HaRishon, as he was the first one created having a soul. 

Before the sin with the tree (whatever the sin really was), Adam included all souls. Including the highest souls ever which enabled him to live eternally. After the sin, Adam and Eve became mortal, as the highest sould were taken from them. Since the following generations and, with Avraham, the Jews, have the task to rectify Adam’s sin. There are things in this world which can be used in a negative sense but also in a positive sense. Example: Wine. We can get drunk or use wine for holy purposes and thus elevate him. When making Kiddush, for instance. One opinion is that, as soon as we finished rectifying Adam’s sin, Meshiach is going to come. However, there are other opinions too (see Talmud Sanhedrin 97 – 99). 

Tu be’Shevat is the possibility consuming fruit in a proper way and thus make it better than Adam.

Links:

Talmud Chagigah: Adam HaRishon 

Why did G - d create Adam ? 

Why were Adam and Eve kicked out of Paradise (Gan Eden) ?

Talmud Chagigah 12a: Adam HaRishon

B”H 

The Talmud Tractate Chagigah 12a teaches that Adam HaRishon (Adam) reached from one end of the earth to the other. 

Explanation:

Like many Aggadic statements these measurements are not meant literally. Rather, the Gemara refers to the measure of mind. Adam’s mind was able to comprehend all that was from one end of heaven to the other and all that was between heaven and earth.

The Lifespan before and after the Mabul (Flood)

B"H

Starting with Adam HaRishon until the last generation before the Flood (Mabul), the human lifespan was almost 1000 years. Let us look at Adam who died of the age of 930, Seth (Shet) died at the age of 912, Methushelach died at the age of 969, Lamech (the father of Noach) died at the age of 777 and Noach died at the age of 950. 

The change came with Noach's son Shem who died at the age of 600 years. After Shem, the human lifespan went down to 400 years and with Peleg (the son of Ever) even down to approx. 200 years. Avraham died at the age of 175 and Yaakov at the age of 147.

It is not a secret that there were many changes after the Mabul. First of all, G - d gave a kind of a punishment. Kabbalistic literature teaches us that, after all those different sins (Adam and Eve, the generation of Enosh, Noach's generation and Nimrod building the Tower), G - d removed his Shechinah (presence) back to the fourth heaven. Meaning, that His Shechinah wasn't as strong as it used to be in the days of Adam. 

Besides G - d changing our human DNA after the Flood, what exactly was the reason for people getting that old ? Among many other commentaries, the ETZ YOSEF states on Talmud Sanhedrin 108: People in Noach's generation were never sick due to a very different kind of air they were breathing. A clean air and still being connected to the first humans as well as creation itself. 

I just wish that I was able breathing this kind of air for two minutes. Not in order to become 1000 years old but just to get a taste of creation.

Link: 

Where are the skeletons from Noach's Flood ?

Were Cain und Abel (Hevel) humans ?

B”H 

We have just started reading the Torah anew and yesterday the Jewish world read Parashat Bereshit in the Synagogues. Bereshit as well as Noach are my favourite Parashot because through endless study, I have been building up a very special connection to those two Parashot. I just love writing about Bereshit and Noach although it is a neverending subject. 

Here is a Midrashic opinion taken over by the Rambam (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 1135 – 1204): 

The Rambam wrote in his “Moreh Nevuchim – Guide for the Perplexed” (1:7), that only Adam HaRishon’s had a human shape whereas his first two sons Cain and Abel (Hevel) rather looked like animals. 

Certain commentators , e.g., the Abarbanel, explain that, first, Adam had misused his extremely high G – dgiven intelligence in a negative way. He preferred running after his own desires instead of using his intellect for a way of getting closer to his creator. 

G – d created man in His own image, meaning that man possesses intellect and the ability building a relationship to G – d. Thus one should always use his intellect in a positive way with a certain amount of Kedusha (Holiness). 

Only when Adam and his wife were thrown out of Paradise (Gan Eden), the two started a Teshuva process. The Talmud Tractate Eruvin 18b teaches that Adam did Teshuva for 130 years, then reunited with his wife and begot his third son Seth (Shet). During all those 130 years, Adam and Chava were separated. 

Whereas Adam and Chava begot their two firstborns when they were still acting against the will of G - d and not too serious about getting closer to Him, Shet was born under different circumstances. Besides the Rambam, especially kabbalistic literature teaches that Cain and Hevel weren’t of human shape but animal – like creatures.

Why didn't G – d create Adam HaRishon on day one?

 Photo: NASA

B”H

The Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 38 is raising the question why G – d didn’t create Adam (HaRishon) on the first day of creation but only on the sixth day ?

The answer given is that G – d wanted to avoid future generations falsely claiming that He (G – d) and Adam were partners in creation. G – d wanted to make it very clear that it was Him alone creating the entire universe and neither did he have partners nor helpers.

Why were Adam HaRishon and Eve (Chava) kicked out of Gan Eden (Paradise) ?

B”H

I cannot help it but Adam and Eve (Chava) always arouse my sympathy. In the end, they didn’t keep the commandment G – d gave them and this simply makes them so human. Others may be upset about their “messing around” but I can understand them.

Their most famous sin was eating from the Tree of Knowledge (Etz HaDa’at Tov veRah) but, according to Rabbinic commentaries, the two “first” humans had caused problems before. The issue with the tree was just the top of the iceberg.

No human being is able to define the Tree of Knowledge. In fact, the entire creation episode the Torah is telling us in Bereshit (Genesis) contains plenty of symbolic language. What was Gan Eden ? Definitely not a tropical place where Adam walked around like Tarzan. Many commentaries claim that Paradise was nothing but an extremely high soul level within Adam and Eve. Fact is that the two didn’t eat an apple but either another fruit (the Talmud gives a whole list of fruits) or they did something completely different and the entire tree – story is just a metaphor. 

Let us assume that Adam and Eve ate from the Etz HaDa’at or whatever they did wrong. Immediately after they sinned, they highest soul levels simply left them. One of the highest souls guaranteeing them eternal life vanished and from one moment to the next, they found themselves in a mortal life.

The question is why G – d had to take them out of the Garden right away ? Chassidut (Chassidism) teaches a deep insight into the matter and, among others, Rabbi Yaakov Koppel (a student of the Baal Shem Tov) gives an explanation in his book “Sha’are’i Gan Eden – Gates of Paradise”: Imagine the two sinned and suddenly they were mortal because their highest soul level had left them. What could Adam and Eve have done now ? Answer: Destroying even more by eating from the Etz Chaim (Tree of Life). This would have caused an even greater disaster and in order to prevent this, G – d kicked them both out of Gan Eden. 

"Sefer Adam HaRishon" lists the plants in Gan Eden according to the Torah Codes. Read more on the subject HERE !

The "Generation of Enosh - Dor Enosh"

B"H

130 years after the creation of Adam (HaRishon), Seth (Shet) was born. With Seth, the second generation came into existence. At the age of 105, he begot Enosh. According to the famous Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (1534 – 1572), Enosh was a Gilgul (reincarnation) of Abel (Hevel). However, the reincarnation came from the negative side of Hevel. Nevertheless, Enosh, as well as his father Shet, were created in the image of Adam HaRishon and, therefore, didn’t look like animals. 

The generation of Enosh made a vital mistake: The people (including Enosh) used to say that G – d had created the planets and star constellations in order to reign over our planet. G – d Himself had a kind of vanished and now the planets would be in charge of everything. With this belief, the generation started to bring sacrifices to the other planets. 

The Rambam (Maimonides) in his “Mishna Torah” describes the sins of Enosh’s generation. Their deeds were nothing but the first idol – worship taking place in the world. However, the people didn’t rebel against G – d (see Ramban and Rashi). The Midrash (Lech Lecha), on the other hand, states that the people did rebel against G – d and this is why G – d decided to punish them. The oceans swallowed one – third of the land. The former land became sea (see Rabbeinu Bachya). 

In the days of Enosh, it was quite popular praying to the sun. Still in Gan Eden (Paradise), Adam had learnt the language of the trees but he never really used his skill. Enosh did the opposite and actively used the language of the tree for the negative. 

The two Talmud Tractates Sukkah 28a and Bava Batra 134a explain the “Language of the Trees”: It is not a language with whom the trees communicate with each other but what people say about the trees. King Salomon (Shlomo HaMelech), for instance, used natural healing and this is what the language of the trees stands for. Using natural healing remedies from plants. 

Shet and Enosh were created in the image of Adam HaRishon (Zelem E – lo – him) but this would change in the future. G – d also punished the generation of Enosh by making their faces look like apes. Have you ever asked youself where the Neanderthals came from ? Here is you answer: It was a G – dly punishment for the generation and not in order to justify Darwin.

Africa and Europe once used to be one continent but G – d made the oceans swallow a big portion of land (see Talmud Shekalim 17a). The G – dly plan was that mankind should do Teshuva but no one understood the message. There are commentators claiming that Enosh only began his idol – worship practises when Adam died. However, Bialik’s Aggadah is listing another reason for G – d’s punishment:

1. It was hard working the land, as stones were everywhere. 

2. The “Nefillim” fell from the sky and were walking around on earth until the Flood came (see “Pirkei Eliezer”, Chap. 7). 

3. The descendants of Shet got too much involved with the descendants of Cain. The result was that the so – called “Anakim – Giants” were born (see Sefer Seder HaDorot). 

Remark: Please note that the NEFILLIM as well as the ANAKIM need further explanation and not everything should be taken literally ! Were the NEFILLIM really fallen angels or just a concept for something else ? I will look into some commentaries as well as into kabbalistic sources and write a separate article. 

Links:

Adam HaRishon, Part 1

Adam HaRishon, Part 2

The Skin of Adam and Eve

G - d created Good and Evil

B”H

It is not the first time that I am explaining that G – d created Good and Evil in this world. The simple reason for Him creating the two is that His intension was providing humankind with a “Free Will” and thus, the logical conclusion is that men needs to have a choice in life. If the world was only good, we would not have a choice but choosing good. Therefore G – d had to create a negative side in order to give us the free will choosing between right and wrong.

In Judaism, the “evil side” doesn’t consist of a guy with a long tail called “devil”, as in Christianity. There simply is no independent entity besides G – d but only G – d. The “evil side” is defined as our own “Yetzer HaRah” trying to convince us to go against G – d’s will. Before creation, there was only good. In fact, there is a rabbinic discussion whether Adam HaRishon already had the ability of a free choice in life but first didn’t use it. Everything was going smoothly in Gan Eden until Eve (Chava) and Adam discovered their free choice and nothing bad really happened to them until G – d through them out.

It is unclear what kind of sin Adam and Eve had done, as the Torah basically uses the Etz HaDa’at and its apple mainly as a metaphor for something else. Already the Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin teaches us that the two first humans (with a soul) didn’t eat an apple but other types of fruit. A date, for instance. 

Until today, our task is to fix the world and return the perfect level from the time before Adam and Eve were thrown out of Gan Eden. There is an opinion that only then Meshiach is going to come.

How do we elevate the world back into its perfection ?

Jews by fulfilling the Torah Mitzvot and Gentiles by following the Seven Noachide Laws, for instance. We have to choose good and not the negative urge inside of us.

Talmud Bava Batra mentions the “Leviathan”. Probably a gigantic fish or whale. It says that when Meshiach comes, G – d is going to slaughter the Leviathan and will feed the Zaddikim (Righteous). However, the Talmud here uses metaphors and what it really means is that the “Leviathan” symbolizes our own “Yetzer HaRah” which will be “slaughtered” by G – d in the times of Meshiach. Meaning, then there won’t be a “Yetzer HaRah” anymore but only good.

The "Aron HaKodesh" inside the Ashkenazi Synagogue of the medieval Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (1534 - 1572) in Zfat shows us a clear example of the Bava Batra teaching: Look at the very left side of the Aron where a grey snake is making its way up. This is a further metaphor for our own "Yetzer HaRah (the negative side in us which we have to fight). 

The below photo shows a Leviathan on the bottom of the design eating the snake (our YETZER). Meaning:G - d is going to eliminate the negative side as soon as Meshiach comes. 

Photo: Miriam Woelke

The Skin of Adam & Eve

B”H

There are plenty of Torah commentaries, Midrashim as well as kabbalistic, Talmudic and chassidic literature teaching us how the first two humans, Adam (HaRishon) and Eve (Chava) looked. The two definitely didn’t look like us today.

A few years ago I started my collection about the different commentaries and opinions. There is so much material that I still haven’t finished collecting. One of the most common ideas is that the skin of Adam and Eve looked like our fingernails today. Meaning, there entire body looked like our fingernails and they didn’t have the same kind of skin we have today.

The kabbalistic book “Shushan Sodot” teaches:

A human being looking at his fingernails arouses the feeling of mercy and kindness within himself. Before Adam and Eve sinned, G – d wasn’t judging them because there was nothing to judge. The two simply didn’t do anything wrong and thus G – d showed towards them mercy and kindness. His judgment only started after the first humans had messed up their lives. 

Adam and Eve began to change after their sin with the Tree of Knowledge and it is said that they received a different type of kind. Similar to ours today. Nevertheless, G – d introduced the Shabbat to the Jewish world where He, once again, shows his mercy and kindness.

I know Chassidim who always look at their fingernails when they are facing a situation where they don’t know where else to look.

Link:

Plants in Gan Eden

Purpose of human Creation

Safed (Zfat) / Northern Israel.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

It is known that a group of angels criticised G - d for His creation of mankind.
"Why did you do that, so the angels to G - d. Don't you see that all those humans are going to sin in the future and thus upset you ?"
And G - d answered: "However, Zaddikim (Righteous) will come from them in the future. I created man so that he can do Teshuva (Repentance) and thus I will have mercy upon him. Of course, I am aware of their future sins but I won't be always angry with those human beings and their negative acts but I will rather influence their private lives in order to push them to Teshuva. Or that they will be able to make Teshuva beforehand".

G - d continued: "Before I created man, I had already created the concept of "Teshuva". There will be people who sin and those who make Teshuva. Many Zaddikim are going to come and the world needs light but also darkness.
Who are you angels telling me that it was wrong to create human beings ? Only those human beings are able to proof whether it was worth creating them !"
__________________

Source:

The kabbalistic and midrashic
"Sefer Adam HaRishon"

Plants in Gan Eden (Paradise)

B"H


The Jewish religious book "Sefer Adam HaRishon" on Adam and Chava (Eve) and their ancestors shows a Torah code graphic.

When you take the original HEBREW version of Bereshit (Genesis) 1:29 - 2:19, and use the JEWISH system of Torah codes (counting certain distances between letters), you will find all kinds of plants which were growing in Gan Eden (Garden of Eden, Paradise).

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Among other, you could find the date tree, olive trees, fig trees, barley, onion, carob trees, etc.

Where is Paradise ?

B"H

The original Hebrew version in the Torah, Genesis - Bereshit 2:10, calls PARADISE "Gan Eden".

I would love to have a look into the Garden of Eden. Just a quick look and maybe even see Adam and Eve (before they were thrown out). The first humans on the planet (some Kabbalists claim that there had been human beings before but without a soul (Neshama)). In particular seeing Adam who was created by G - d Himself. We have no clue how the two of them looked but I assume that they didn't look like us today but slightly different.

Translations into many different languages see in PARADISE just ONE location. One closed place whether only existing on a spiritual level or existing in real. However, the original Hebrew word for Paradise consists of TWO words: GAN and EDEN.

The Book of Genesis 2:10:

"And a river goeth out of EDEN to water the GARDEN (GAN)";

The Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 99a teaches us a brief definition:

Reish Lakish said: "Adam lived in the GARDEN and not in EDEN. The Torah indicates (see above quotation) that EDEN and the GARDEN are different places.

Reish Lakish sees in EDEN (where the river is coming from) a much higher (spiritual) level than the actual GARDEN. Thus EDEN would stand for OLAM HABAH - the World to Come. What the Torah actually tells us is that there are TWO paradises; one lower and one higher up.

Mitzvat "Be fruitful and multiply"

B"H

"Be fruitful and multiply", this is the first Mitzvah G - d ever gave to humankind. To humankind and not only to Adam and Eve (Chava) in Gan Eden (Paradise). However, this Mitzvah applies to men only !

Rabbi Daniel Frish (former Toldot Aharon Chassid, later he became a member of the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak) explains his understanding of "Be fruitful and multiply" in his book "Kedusha veZniut - Holiness and Modesty" (a modesty code for Chassidut Toldot Aharon). According to his understanding, however, not only Jews received this commandment but also all the other nations (see "Kedusha veZniut", Chapter 1). Even the animal kingdom has to fulfill this "Mitzvah".

The Talmud Tractate Yevamot 62 teaches us what our Sages actually consider as fulfilling the Mitzvah "Be fruitful and multiply"; meaning, how many children should a man have in order to fulfill the Mitzvah in the best way ?

Talmud Yevamot also teaches us about the Machloket (discourse) between the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel. Two famous Rabbis who hardly ever agreed on each others opinions. I once read somewhere that in the times of Meshiach, we actually will go according to the stricter viewpoints of Shammai. Until then, we go according to the more moderate Hillel.

Shammai said that a man only fulfills the Mitzvah when he has two sons and two daughters. According to Hillel a man must have at least one daughter and one son.

Shammai based his opinion on Adam and Eve who had two sons and, as the Midrash and other sources tell us, three daughters. When Cain got killed, Seth (Shet) took over the role of the second son.

The question is whether this Mitzvah also applies to a convert to Judaism ?

Reish Lakish has his doubts (in Yevamot 62) because a male convert who has children from his non - Jewish past has a problem, as the children are not considered Jewish and thus he cannot fulfilled the Mitzvah.

Happy Birthday, World !

The Big Bang
Photo: NASA

B"H

Today (Monday) is the 25th Elul; the day when G - d started His creation process. As most of us know, Rosh HaShana represents the creation of the first two humans - Adam and Eve (Chava).

Don't only think about Teshuva, perfection or prayer but start appreciating G - d's creation as well !

Details:

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