Mermaids and other half - human Beings

B”H 

Don't we love those movies where a  kind of monster is shown ? Half human and half animal such as a mermaid or the beast in "The Beauty and the Beast". The X - Files as well as other similar TV series have been extremely successful showing us the unbelievable. The hidden side of our existence. I am not too familiar with psychology but there must be a reason why we humans are attracted to "half - humans" (half animal, half human). The question is whether these creatures do really exist and if it is possible that an animal and a human begot a baby.

Even the Talmud Bechorot 8 is dealing with half humans. In this case with dolphins. The mammals have sex the same way as humans. They are intelligent and called "the men of the sea" but are they really like us ?

Rashi does believe in the existence of mermaids although not due to a relationship between a human and a dolphin. Other Rabbis totally disagree with the Rashi opinion and say that there aren't any half humans around. This would be completely impossible after the Flood of Noach. However, Rashi's opinion doesn't surprise, as quite a few medieval Rabbis thought that mysterious creatures exist and that Talmudic and Midrashic stories referring to them are actually true.

The generation of Noach used to have sex with animals, as the Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin is teaching us. Due to a different human DNA in the days of Noach, men were able to procreate from animals. Thus, the entire G - dly creation got messed up, as there were strange creatures running around. A cow half human, half man, for instance. Even the different animal species had sex with each other and procreated. A chicken with a dog and just imagine what came out of that. If we had a time machine and went back into the days of Noach, we would definitely faint. The pure Rocky Horror Picture Show and Hollywood would be so jealous !

After the Flood, G - d changed the human DNA and therefore, it became impossible procreating with an animal. It simply doesn't exist anymore although some horror movies will tell you the opposite. We don't get that old anymore, as the people before the Flood. We are vulnerable too illnesses (the people in Noach's generation were not sick) and we don't have such a long life - span anymore. In other words, we are completely different from Noach's Generation.

Link: 

Jonah and the Fish

Midrash YALKUT SHIMONI on Parashat EKEV

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H 

Those of you studying Judaism in depths know that there are quite a few Midrashim around. The majority of texts or Rabbis usually refer to the two most famous ones: Midrash Tanchuma and Midrash Rabbah. However, there are many many more Midrashim around and I personally like to study (when I have got the time) the Midrashim Yalkut Shimoni and Yalkut Re'uveni. 

Nevertheless, it is not "only" the Yalkut Shimoni making the following statement on Parashat EKEV. I know that EKEV was already read yesterday but Yalkut Shimoni's thought itself is always interesting. 

By making the statement, Yalkut Shimoni is quoting a sentence from Sefer Mishlei 11:21 and saying that G – d didn't give the Mitzvot to the Jewish people in order that the reward (for carrying out Mitzvot) will be given immediately. On the other hand, when a Gentile is doing a Mitzvah (keeping the Seven Noachide Laws) he will be receiving his reward right away (interpretation of Sefer Devarim 7:10). Meaning that Jews may only receive their reward in Olam Habah whereas Gentiles usually receive their reward in Olam HaZeh. 

Moreover, G – d definitely had His reason for not letting people know their exact reward. Lets say a Jew is saying a Bracha before eating or drinking: He usually does so according to different levels. If he does it because it is part of his frum routine and he learned it from his parents, well, this may be one of the lowest levels. 

If he fulfills the Mitzvah because out of fear of G – d, he carries out the Mitzvah but also on a lower level. The highest level of carrying out Mitzvot is the love of G – d. The problem is that if we knew what kind of reward we receive from G – d, we would carry out certain Mitzvot much more than others. Depending on the level of reward. This is the reason why we don't know our reward for doing such and such. 

Some very interesting points we should never forget. Sometimes we think that we already know all this but it is always good to be reminded.

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.

All wishes will never be fulfilled

Wealthy area in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv: Housing and office complex.

Photo: Miriam Woelke 

B"H

No man departs from this world having attained half of his desires (Kohelet Rabbah 1:13).

Every human being on this planet has desires, wishes and expectations. There is a theory in psychology that unfulfilled expectations can cause depression. Not all our wishes are being fulfilled. Thta's life and G – d alone decides what we get, what we don’t get and where we succeed or fail. 

Most people only seem to concentrate on material things instead of looking at the spiritual side. Let me tell you one thing from experience: Money doesn’t make you happy ! What money does is providing you a secure life without any worries about paying the rent. However, money won’t give you joy but more sorrows. Just wait until the tax authorities will come after you.

Thoughts on Parashat NASSO

Photo: Mark Rothko

B"H

The Midrash Tanchuma is telling us the following story in regard of this week's Torah Parasha NASSO:

There was an incident involving two sisters who resembled each other. One of them was married (and lived) in one town, and the other one was married (and lived) in another town. The husband of one of them wanted to warn her (against secluding herself with another man) and to have her drink the bitter waters in Jerusalem. She went to the town where her sister lived. Her sister said to her, "Why did you come here ?" She answered, "My wants to have me drink the bitter waters". The sister said, "I will go and drink instead of you".

She answered, "Go !" Her sister put on her clothes and went instead of her. She drank the bitter waters, was founded innocent, and went back to her sister's house. Her sister went out to greet her joyfully. She hugged her, and kissed her on the mouth. When they kissed, (the sister who was suspected by her husband) smelled the bitter waters, and died immediately, in fulfillment of that which it says, "Man is not in control of the wind, to be able to confine the wind, and he has no authority on the day of death. There is no substitution in war, nor does evil escape him to whom it belongs". (Ecclesiastes / Kohelet 8:8)

Why does G – d care how we fulfill the Mitzvot ?

B”H

The Midrash Rabbah (Bereshit – Genesis) 44:1 is asking why G – d cares whether we slaughter the animal from the neck or any other part of the body ? Why did he give us all the Torah Mitzvot ?

Does He gain anything from whether I cook a chicken leg in a milk sauce ? Isn’t it much more important to know that there is a G – d; meaning grasping the Creator on an intellectual level ? Even if not and He commands me doing Mitzvot, why do I have to carry out everything in a special way ?

The same Midrash answers that from this we conclude that the Mitzvot were only given to purify man. Even the Gentile world should know His existence and not worshipping other Gods. However, we Jews received 613 Torah Mitzvot and are due to carry them out in a precise Halachic way. If the Torah doesn’t go into details, the Talmud does.

When I started learning in Yeshiva, we were always told that the Mitzvot give us a lifestyle of discipline. Jews have to behave in a human way and not follow their desires of the animal soul. At least not excessively. Eating, drinking, worldly pleasure YES but within limits. On the other hand, Jews have to elevate themselves on a higher level by fulfilling the Mitzvot. The Torah and the Mitzvot are the way G – d is communicating with us. How would we know His will if not through the Torah Mitzvot ?

Midrash Rabbah & Parashat Beshalach

 

In Zfat / Northern Israel:

A Beit Midrash and a  Mikweh.

Synagogue in Zfat. 

The blue colour is being used in order to keep demons or the evil eye away.I heard that this is a kabbalistic idea but the Arabs actually use the same "blue colour systems". 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

B”H

I would like to share a brief but very significant idea mentioned in the Midrash Rabbah (Parashat Beshalach). The Midrash tells the following story:

A man riding on a donkey suddenly saw a child in the street. He was afraid that his donkey may hit the child and injure it, so he quickly pulled the animal aside and the child was not injured. People began praising the donkey because it had leaped over the child and didn’t injure it but it was actually the donkey’s owner causing the animal’s reaction. If he hadn’t pulled the donkey aside, it would have hurt the child. 

The Midrash relates the story to a different event, however, I noticed that this actually happens to us every day. We see all kinds of events and start praising the police, the army, the helpful neighbour or any other people supporting us. What we don’t see behind all this is G – d. If G – d wasn’t pulling those people to us and use divine providence, the world and its population may react in a completely different way. 

What we have to realize is that behind anything happening, G – d is pulling the strings and it is Him causing things to happen.

The MIDRASH RABBAH and the CHATAM SOFER on PARASHAT VAYECHI

B"H

The "Chatam Sofer" - Rabbi Moshe Schreiber (Hebrew: SOFER, Engl.: Writer) was born in Frankfurt /Main (Germany) in 1762. He passed away in Pressburg (today: Bratislava / Slovakia) in 1839. During his lifetime, the Chatam Sofer was one of the leading European Rabbis. Among others, he vehemently fought against the Jewish Reform Movement. He established a Yeshiva in Pressburg (there is still a "Yeshivat Pressburg" in Jerusalem's neighbourhood Givat Sha'ul).
He ruled that the Torah is never going to change and that the laws are eternal. He used this as an argument against the Reform Movement.




Parashat Vayechi


The Midrash Rabbah teaches us that when Yaakov was on his deathbed, he experienced different visions regarding the future. Yaakov wished to reveal the "end", hence, the exact date of the arrival of Meshiach and the Ge'ula (Redemption). However, suddenly, at this very moment, Yaakov lost his ability to prophesize. Why ?
Answers the Midrash: Because all the troubles of the world were now closed for him. Meaning that in the last seventeen years of his life (when he lived in Egypt reunited with his sons) he was completely happy.


The Chatam Sofer warns that prosperity in Galut (Diaspora) brings about assimilation. A very good example is given here: King Ptolemy's decree that the Torah be translated into Greek. It seemed that Bnei Yisrael's prestige would soar as a result of this document, known as the "Septuagint". In fact, the very opposite occurred: the Septuagint inspired Jews to study and adopt Greek culture.


"And the time drew near that Israel (Yaakov) must die …"
The Midrash says that we are strangers before G - d, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow (I Chron. XXIX, 15). No one can cope to escape death; all know it and affirm with their own mouths that they will die.


The Chatam Sofer commentated:
Yaakov offered his grandchildren and their descendants, eventually exiled by Sancheriv, the blessing that they will never be totally destroyed. He assured them that his name and the names of his forefathers will always be given to them. Yaakov even referred to his own life emphasizing how G - d had protected him. The name YISRAEL always connotes a triumphant people, doing Teshuva not out of fear but through a sincere desire to return to G - d. Any of these factors will produce the End of Days (Chatam Sofer).

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"

Where were the Forefathers buried ?

B"H

You may call me a heretic but, nevertheless, I don't think that every Kever (grave) of one of our forefathers is really his / her grave. I have strong doubts whether today's grave of Aharon (Moshe's brother) in Jordan, the grave of Yosef in Shechem (Nablus) or the grave of Rachel (Immenu - our foremother) are the authentic graves. How do we know the exact locations after

thousands of years ?

What if Kever Rachel (Rachel's grave) is a few kilometres further away or even many miles ? How are we supposed to know where Aharon is buried ?

I heard that a Jordanian Arab is in charge of Aharon's grave. Once you get there you have to rent a donkey and climb up a mountain. If the Arab on top is in the mood or you are willing to bribe him, he may show you Aharon's grave.

The truth we will only find out when the resurrection of the death is going to take place. 

What a surprise when some woman is jumping out of Rachel's grave and Rachel is getting up at a completely location.:-)

Adam HaRishon – Part 1

B"H

Already on its first pages, the book "Sefer Adam HaRishon" confronts its readers with an amazing inside. You can look at a page from the Torah (Parashat Bereshit) where it talks about Gan Eden (Paradise). Furthermore this particular page shows an analysis including the Jewish Torah codes. Where the Torah describes Paradise, the Torah codes identify 23 trees which apparently grew in Gan Eden.

The codes work according to a system where one counts a certain amount of letters throughout a page.
Example: Take every fifth letter and see if you can make up a word.

No one in this world has been able to define the meaning of "Gan Eden – Paradise".
Was it an entirely spiritual world ?
Did Adam and Chava (Eve) only live in a spiritual sense and not in a material (until they were thrown out of Gan Eden) ?
Was their life a complete spiritual life without a material location ?

According to the Torah codes, these trees grew in Gan Eden:
The thorn bush, the fig tree, the date palm, olive trees, etc.

In about two weeks, we are going to celebrate Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year. According to Talmud Rosh HaShana, this holiday also represents the birthday of humankind, as Adam HaRishon was created. The whole creation process already started on 25th Elul, five days earlier.

And G – d said: "Let us make man …"

How many false conclusions have been drawn just about this one sentence "Let US make …" ?

"US". Who is "US" ? Why doesn't it say "I" or "ME" ? Is G – d not the only finite being ruling over everything ? And doesn't the word "US" hint to a plural ?
The Christians claim that the word "US" proves the Trinity but what is the true meaning of the concept "Let US make man ?"
Who really created Adam is taught to us by a different Torah verse: "And G – d created man".
In the original text in Hebrew we find the word "ivra - created" written in the future tense. However, the word "ivra" always stands for the future tense in singular. ONE person is going to do something. HE and not THEM !

According to this grammar we can quickly prove that Adam was created by a singular being called G – d and there was no Trinity or anything else involved.

The book "Sefer Adam HaRishon" lists a few commentators explaining the word "us" but I am going to explain the particular reason in a later article. So far, just something in brief:
When G – d created the world and also Adam, He acted with different powers and character traits called "Sefirot". Some commentators state that G – d asked the angels before He created mankind. However, the angels are widely seen as a metaphor for G – d's different powers describing His acts from different perspectives.

Who was Adam HaRishon ? Was he only spiritual and only became material after he and his second wife Chava (Eve) were thrown out of Gan Eden and sent into our physical world ? How were the two dressed ?

In the Midrash as well in kabbalisitc literature, we can find plenty of interpretations on what Adam and Chava wore inside Gan Eden and afterwards. In fact, there is so much material that one could write an entire book on the subject. In the Tora we read that after they ate from the "Tree of Knowledge – Etz HaDa'at Tov veRah", G – d Himself provided them with new clothing.
As usual, there are many opinions on how those clothes looked but one thing seems to be sure: Those clothes provided Adam HaRishon with very unique powers and he had special abilities no one else had.

Is says in the Midrash Rabbah that those clothes were passed on from generation to generation. Noach took them into the Ark but afterwards they got stolen by Ham. Later on, Nimrod got hold of them. The Midrash Tanchuma tells us the famous story when Esav went out to hunt and killed Nimrod in order to steal the special clothes for himself. Afterwards, Yaakov took the clothes and thus convinced his father Yitzchak that he was Esav and not Yaakov. Yaakov received the blessing and after this event, the clothes just seem to disappear.

When Adam HaRishon was created, he came into a perfect world called "Gan Eden – Paradise". Who wouldn't like to live in such a place today ? A Paradise where everything was available. A place without any sorrows, worries and catastrophes. Everything is just perfect and G – d Himself is always present. Let's just put ourselves into the position of Adam HaRishon. Out of the blue, he was created on Har HaMoriah (the Temple Mount) and then placed into Gan Eden. Who was he ? From where did he come ? Adam doesn't know and even generations later, people made fun of him because he was the only one without a biological father.

At his creation it says in the Torah:

"He (G – d) created them – Bara OTAM".

The word "them – OTAM" hints to a plural in the original Hebrew language ! Jewish commentators claim that G – d didn't created only one man but two. Both were connected on their backs and the second person created together with Adam was his first wife Lilith. There are endless commentaries and opinions on Lilith and in fact, we shouldn't even mention her name as, according to the ZOHAR, she wasn't that what we would call a nice person. But today, there are even non – Jewish parents calling their daughters by that name. Actually they couldn't choose a more terrible name for their daughter. After Lilith was quickly thrown out of Gan Eden, Chava was created.

An important subject in Kabbalah are all the different souls (Neshamot) of Adam HaRishon. It is said that his unique Neshama contained all the souls of this world. Before he sinned, his soul was on the highest level ever and contained the highest soul levels called Chaya and Yechidah. Those two levels come from the highest spiritual worlds but no one can really say what these levels caused. Nevertheless, they seem to have provided Adam with an eternal life until he ate from the Tree of Knowledge. At that moment, the highest soul levels left his Neshama and only the Israelites standing in front of Har Sinai and receiving the Torah gained such levels. After the sin of the Golden Calf, the Jews again lost the highest soul levels and need to continue their Tikun Olam (soul rectification for the whole word).

Although the plants were created before Adam, they only started blossoming and bearing fruit when he prayed for rain. Only when it rained, nature became active. Adam and Chava's task was not to eat from the "Tree of Knowledge – Etz HaDa'at Tov veRah". Despite their high soul level and their perfect surrounding of Gan Eden, they were forced to pray for their daily needs, otherwise the tree wouldn't bear fruit. From there we learn that also today, we have to pray to G – d for our needs and shouldn't take everything just for granted.

___________________________

Source:

"Sefer Adam HaRishon"